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Robin Hobb Quotes

Powerful Robin Hobb for Daily Growth

About Robin Hobb

Robin Hobb (born Susan Anna Barber-Hornby on October 15, 1952) is a renowned British fantasy author, celebrated for her intricate plotlines, richly detailed worlds, and complex characters. Born in Wales to English parents, she spent much of her childhood traveling around Europe due to her father's work as an engineer. This nomadic upbringing likely contributed to her vivid storytelling abilities. After completing a degree in biology at the University of Keele, Hobb worked for various environmental organizations in the UK and Australia. However, her passion for writing always remained. In 1995, she published her debut novel, "Assassin's Apprentice," under the pseudonym Robin Hobb. The book was the first installment in the epic "Farseer" trilogy, which follows the journey of the flawed protagonist FitzChivalry Farseer. The success of the "Farseer" series led to a sequel, the "Tawny Man" trilogy, and later, the standalone novels "Shakespeare's Lackey," "Hope & Wings," and "Galdrith & Vollurin." Hobb is also known for the Realm of the Elderlings series, which includes the "Liveship Traders" trilogy, "The Rain Wild Chronicles," and the upcoming "Tawny Man Prequel" (tentatively titled "Casting the Bones"). Hobb's works are distinguished by their deep character development, rich world-building, and attention to detail. She is a master of crafting complex narratives that explore themes of power, identity, loyalty, and destiny. Her writing has garnered her numerous awards, including three Mythopoeic Fantasy Awards, two Crawford Awards, and two Locus Awards for Best Fantasy Novel. Robin Hobb continues to enchant readers with her captivating tales set in the intricate world of the Elderlings.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing."

This quote by Robin Hobb emphasizes humility and the acknowledgement of our limited understanding. It suggests that genuine wisdom lies not in pretending to have all the answers, but rather in admitting our ignorance and continually seeking knowledge and understanding. This perspective encourages lifelong learning, fostering a mindset open to growth and adaptability.

"It was a truth universally acknowledged that a suit of armor never stayed clean for long."

This quote by Robin Hobb underscores the inherent impermanence of order and neatness, particularly when it comes to items associated with protection or strength, such as armor. It suggests that no matter how carefully we maintain our defenses or facades, life's natural chaos and unpredictability will eventually disrupt them, implying a universal truth about the constant evolution and transformation in our lives.

"Dangerous to be sure, but exhilarating as well. It's a heady mix of fear and freedom that makes the blood race through your veins."

This quote suggests that taking risks or engaging in potentially dangerous situations can provide an adrenaline rush and sense of liberation. The combination of fear (due to danger) and freedom (from routine or limitations) leads to heightened emotions and a thrilling experience, as if the blood is racing through one's veins.

"Chance favors only the prepared mind."

This quote by Robin Hobb underscores the idea that opportunities or "chance" are more likely to favor those who have prepared themselves, rather than those who have not. In other words, it suggests that being well-equipped with knowledge, skills, and foresight significantly increases one's chances of success in life when unexpected opportunities or challenges arise. Essentially, the quote encourages individuals to always be ready for anything by investing time and effort in preparation.

"The greatest harm can come from the best intentions."

This quote by Robin Hobb highlights a profound truth about human nature: well-intentioned actions may lead to unintended harmful consequences. It encourages us to think deeply about our actions, especially when guided by good intentions, to ensure they do not inadvertently cause harm or suffering to others.

Fantasy encompasses a wide, wide spectrum of writing. We have beast fables, we have gothics, we have tales of vampires and werewolves, and we have sword and sorcery; we have epics from Homer, and there is just so much out there that we put under the umbrella of 'fantasy.'

- Robin Hobb

Fantasy, Fables, Wide, Umbrella

Sometimes I regret that the wonderful children's stories that have been made into movies were - people no longer read 'The Wizard of Oz'; they think they know the story. They don't know anything about all the bits and pieces they had to leave out.

- Robin Hobb

Regret, Sometimes, Been, Wizard Of Oz

I think ever since I started to read, there have been favorite novels for different stages of my life. And one is never bumped out of place to yield to another. Instead, I just add to my favorite shelves.

- Robin Hobb

My Life, Been, I Think, Bumped

I would say that many of the characters in my stories do not live in true poverty - they are not out on the street; they are not wondering if there will be anything to eat in the next week. They are people who are at the lower echelons of the economic strata.

- Robin Hobb

Week, Next, Out, Wondering

I think it's really hard to draw a hard-and-fast line and say 'Grimm's Fairy Tales' doesn't count as science fiction or fantasy. Or at what point do we say mythology is not fantasy, so reading mythology when you're young does not count as an exposure to fantasy?

- Robin Hobb

Young, Fiction, I Think, Science Fiction

Dragons, to my way of thinking, are just another 'race' of sapient characters. We see lots of elves, dwarves, orcs, goblins, giants and, of course, dragons.

- Robin Hobb

Thinking, Race, Another, Giants

As the character talks and moves, the world around him is slowly revealed, just like dollying a camera back for a wider look at things. So all my stories start with a character, and that character introduces setting, culture, conflict, government, economy... all of it, through his or her eyes.

- Robin Hobb

Through, Back, Wider, Revealed

Not intending to be funny: I sit at the keyboard, put my fingers on the keys and go. To me, it's the real secret of writing. Put yourself in front of the screen or the blank sheet of paper and get to work.

- Robin Hobb

Keyboard, Keys, Blank, Intending

I know some people see it as this success when the book is finally made into a movie - that marks its success. I don't see it that way.

- Robin Hobb

Some, Movie, Made, Marks

Sometimes people ask if my books have morals or lessons for readers, and I shudder at that thought. I always say that I have more questions than answers.

- Robin Hobb

Thought, More, Always, Lessons

Writing and reading fiction is, I think, a human effort to make sense of the world.

- Robin Hobb

World, Think, I Think, Human Effort

I think when writers play with dragons, we are simply doing what fantasy writers have always done.

- Robin Hobb

Play, Think, Always, Dragons

The challenge is always to find the good place to end the book. The rule I follow with myself is that every book should end where the next book would logically begin. I know that some readers wish that literally all of the threads would be neatly tied off and snipped, but life just doesn't work that way.

- Robin Hobb

Next, Some, Neatly, Readers

I think it was always okay to be a geek.

- Robin Hobb

Think, Always, Okay, Geek

I actually think that short stories transfer to film much better than novels do.

- Robin Hobb

Think, Better, Actually, Short Stories

At what point is a person old enough to say, 'I own my body, and I get to do what I want with it'?

- Robin Hobb

Own, Person, Old, Old Enough

Fantasy is my genre and my home in the writing world. I consider it the biggest writing room in all literature, where there are literally no boundaries at all.

- Robin Hobb

Fantasy, Room, No Boundaries, Genre

I think there have always been male writers, female writers. As a reader, I never picked up a book and said, 'Oh, I can't read this - it's about a male,' and set it back down.

- Robin Hobb

Think, Always, Been, Picked

I think that my passion for writing fantasy began at about the same time as my passion for reading fantasy.

- Robin Hobb

Think, I Think, Began, Fantasy

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