"The wheel of a king is covered with the blood of the innocent. The wheel wears down, but the innovation of the ages never dies."
This quote suggests that kings or rulers often resort to harsh or unjust actions (the "blood of the innocent"), but their reign ultimately comes to an end (the "wheel wearing down"). However, the innovations and advancements that occur during their rule continue to impact society for generations ("the innovation of the ages never dies"). In essence, power may be tainted with injustice, but progress and change are eternal.
"It's the family you're born into and the family you choose. Blood is not always closer than love."
George R.R. Martin's quote highlights that while blood relations are traditionally considered as familial ties, the most important bond is often the one chosen through love, companionship, and shared experiences. It suggests that the family we choose - our friends, partners, and selected relatives - can sometimes be more significant than the one we were born into, as these relationships can be built on mutual affection, understanding, and shared values. This quote underscores the importance of both biological and chosen families in shaping our lives and identities.
"And now his watch begins. It shall not end until his death. He has taken his vows. His enemies are the enemies of the North. Winter is coming."
This quote, from George R.R. Martin's "A Game of Thrones," embodies a sense of duty, loyalty, and preparedness for adversity. The character being referred to has taken a vow to protect his land (the North) and its people, and he will not rest until he fulfills this responsibility. Additionally, the phrase "Winter is coming" serves as a stark reminder that danger, in the form of winter or other threats, is always approaching and must be met with vigilance and resilience.
"A man knows what he is, but knows not what he may become."
This quote emphasizes the distinction between a person's current identity and their potential for growth and change. It suggests that individuals often have a self-perception of who they are at a given moment, yet they have the capacity to evolve into something greater or different than their present selves, reflecting the dynamic nature of human development and personal transformation.
"Power resides where men believe it resides."
This quote by George R.R. Martin implies that power isn't solely tied to a specific location, individual, or institution; instead, it lies in the collective belief of people. In other words, the source of power is determined by societal perceptions and consensus. This notion emphasizes the psychological and social aspects of power, suggesting that those who hold power can maintain it only as long as others believe they possess it.
I believe that a writer learns from every story he writes, and when you try different things, you learn different lessons. Working with other writers, as in Hollywood or in a shared world series, will also strengthen your skills, by exposing you to new ways of seeing the work, and different approaches to certain creative challenges.
- George R. R. Martin
'Dreamsongs' allows me to show the scope of my writing - with personal commentary that puts the works in context and includes some autobiographical details intended to reveal how each piece came to be, what it represents, and how it has formed, or been informed by, my philosophy of writing.
- George R. R. Martin
Fiction is lies; we're writing about people who never existed and events that never happened when we write fiction, whether its science fiction or fantasy or western mystery stories or so-called literary stories. All those things are essentially untrue. But it has to have a truth at the core of it.
- George R. R. Martin
Many writers will get a contract by selling chapters and outlines or something like that. I wrote the entire novel, and when it was all finished, I would give it to my agent and say, 'Well, here's a novel; sell it if you can.' And they would do that, and it was good because I never had anyone looking over my shoulder.
- George R. R. Martin
The odd thing about being a writer is you do tend to lose yourself in your books. Sometimes it seems like real life is flickering by and you're hardly a part of it. You remember the events in your books better than you remember the events that actually took place when you were writing them.
- George R. R. Martin
I was a novelist first. But in the mid-'80s, I did work in television for ten years. And yes, that was frequently the reaction to my scripts. People would say, 'You know, George, this is great. We love it, a terrific script, but it would cost five times our budget to shoot this.'
- George R. R. Martin
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