One of the great things about books is you can afford to do anything.
George R. R. MartinRead
The Iron Throne is mine by rights. All those who deny that are my foes." "The whole of the realm denies it, brother," said Renley. "Old men deny it with their death rattle, and unborn children deny it in their mothers' wombs. They deny it in Dorne and they deny it on the Wall. No one wants you for their king. Sorry.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote expresses a struggle for power and recognition of authority amidst widespread denial and opposition.
In this quote, the speaker asserts their claim to the throne, highlighting the tension between personal rights to power and the collective rejection from the people and land they wish to rule. The dialogue illustrates the challenges of leadership, where entitlement to power is not enough if the realm does not support or acknowledge that claim, showcasing the complexities of ambition and authority in political landscapes.
Themes
AuthorityPowerLeadershipClaimRejection
In practice
Example use cases
During a political debate about claims to leadership.
More from George R. R. Martin
All quotes →I hate outlines. I have a broad sense of where the story is going; I know the end, I know the end of the principal characters, and I know the major turning points and events from the books, the climaxes for each book, but I don't necessarily know each twist and turn along the way. That's something I discover in the course of writing and that's what makes writing enjoyable. I think if I outlined comprehensively and stuck to the outline the actual writing would be boring.
George R. R. MartinRead
There is only one god and his name is Death. And there is only one thing we say to Death: “Not today.
George R. R. MartinRead
I did not do it. Yet now I wish I had.’ He turned to face the hall, that sea of pale faces. ‘I wish I had enough poison for you all. You make me sorry that I am not the monster you would have me be, yet there it is. I am innocent, but I will get no justice here.
George R. R. MartinRead
But a voice inside her whispered, There are no heroes, and she remembered what Lord Petyr had said to her, here in this very hall. 'Life is not a song, sweetling,' he'd told her, 'You may learn that one day to your sorrow.' In life, the monsters win, she told herself.
George R. R. MartinRead
I write from this tight third-person viewpoint, where each chapter is seen through the eyes of one individual character. When I'm writing that character, I become that character and identify with that character.
George R. R. MartinRead
Similar quotes
...I never heard him abuse an enemy. Some of the cruel things said about President Lincoln, particularly in the North, used to pierce him to the heart; but never in my presence did he evince a revengeful disposition.
Ulysses S. GrantRead
If you have no opposition in the place you serve, you're serving in the wrong place.
G. Campbell MorganRead
Morally, the life of the organization must be of exemplary nature. This is one phase where the organization must not have criticism.
Vince LombardiRead
There is a crisis of leadership and governance in Africa, and we must face it.
Mo IbrahimRead
I only met Margaret Thatcher twice. The thing that I thought about meeting her was how extraordinarily intelligent she was. You really had to be on your game otherwise she'd make mincemeat of you.
Salman RushdieRead
I believe we need leaders who actually want to lead everyone.
Stacey AbramsRead