If you’ve read any of the A Song of Ice and Fire books by George R. R. Martin – or watched the first season of the HBO series A Game of Thrones – you know what the series offers. You have characters you love to hate or hate to love — villains that revolt you — scenes that ruined your week. And you likely have favorite quotes.
Here are a few of my favorite quotes and some from other A Song of Ice and Fire readers. I’ve also added my thoughts on each quote. Got a favorite quote? Share it in the comments. Be careful – some of these are from the later books. If you’re still catching up or you’ve only watched the HBO series, you will run into some SPOILERS.
These first three come from Travis Warren , an Associated Content writer.
“A Lannister always pays his debts.”
This quote has tons of depth. Depending on the speaker and inflection, it can convey just about anything. One way, it emphasizes honor. But a slight change of delivery adds menace and malice aplenty. The Lannisters know it, and lean on this family catchphrase early and often.
“Winter is coming.”
On the Stark family calendar, you’d probably find this phrase in every day on the grid. It’s grim and fatalistic. None of the trueborn Starks have much in the way of humor. Ned’s bastard son John was most likely to smile and find something to enjoy in life – though even he had a hard time with the grinning and mouthy ward Theon Greyjoy. It’s a perfectly grim motto for a perfectly grim family.
“Valar morghulis” (All men must die.)
I most closely associate this phrase with the Arya Stark and her flight from Harrenhal. Other characters speak it, but it becomes close to a mantra for Arya – and ultimately symbolizes her salvation and sanctuary. Life in the House of Black and White isn’t easy, but it’s far better than taking her chances with characters like Biter, Rorge, Gregor Clegane or even Lord Bolton.
The next few quotes are favorites of Vince Wood of Hurst, Texas. He makes some great choices.
“There are no men like me. There’s only me.”
Jaime Lannister shows his arrogance with this quote. Or is it self belief? It’s a fine line between the two. You can be sure these words came before the loss of his sword hand. Once he loses that defining part of himself, Jaime goes through an incredible change – possibly one of the most profound and sudden in the book.
“The King eats, they say, but the Hand takes the s**t.”
Renly Baratheon shows how many in the know view Westeros politics. The late King Robert spent most of his time in idle pursuits while his Hand, John Arryn, ruled in his stead. It sounds like this is nothing new: Ser Illyn Payne lost his tongue when he boasted that his leash holder, Tywin Lannister, truly ruled rather than the Targaryen king. Ned Stark doesn’t take long to see the truth in Renly’s words.
“No man is free. Only children and fools think elsewise.”
Tywin Lannister is nearly as icy as Ned Stark. This quote shows his worldview – no matter your station, you are somehow bound. By family. By duty. By economics. By birth. Regardless of how, you just have to do the best with the hand you’re dealt. It’s odd that Tywin feels so bound given his wealth. I think it’s likely that having Cersei spurned by the Targaryen family made a profound impact on him.
I’ll finish with two of my favorites.
“Let me give you some counsel, bastard. Never forget what you are, for surely the world will not. Make it your strength. Then it can never be a weakness. Armor yourself in it, and it will never be used to hurt you.”
Tyrion Lannister tells Jon Snow exactly how to turn being a the baseborn son of a high lord to his advantage. And he lives it throughout the books. He embraces being the Imp, a monster, a hideous dwarf. He mocks and jests and plays along with every sling and arrow. Tyrion even embraces the nickname “Halfman” given to him by the mountain clans.
“I’m honest. It’s the world that’s awful.”
Sandor “The Hound” Clegane – a “dog” who refuses to bend the knee and become a knight because he hates their falseness. Hideously scarred (emotionally as well as his face), he loves to kill. But something about Sansa and Arya Stark awakens his decency. Yet he never sugarcoats his beliefs, telling Sansa that she’d better get used to a world where there are no true knights. And a dog he may be, but a dog never plays its owner false.
