Terry Goodkind is an American writer. He is known for the epic fantasy series The Sword of Truth as well as the contemporary suspense novel The Law of Nines (2009), which has ties to his fantasy series. The Sword of Truth series sold 25 million copies worldwide and was translated into more than 20 languages. Additionally, it was adapted into a television series called Legend of the Seeker, which premiered on November 1, 2008, and ran for two seasons, ending in May 2010.
Goodkind is a proponent of Ayn Rand’s philosophical approach of Objectivism, and makes references to Rand’s ideas and novels in his works. (via Wikipedia)
Following are a few quotes from his famous writings.
On Love:
Love is not about what you want. It’s about finding happiness for the one you love.
(From: Wizard’s First Rule)
Love is a passion for life shared with another person. You fall in love with a person who you think is wonderful. It’s your deepest appreciation of the value of that individual, and that individual is a reflection of what you value most in life. Love, for sound reasons, can be one of life’s greatest rewards. (From: Chainfire)
On Life:
The first law of reason is what exists, existswhat is, is and from this irreducible bedrock principleall knowledge is build. He said that was the foundation from which life is embraced. He said thinking is a choice, and that wishes and whims are not facts, nor are they means to discover them. Richard said reason is our only way of grasping reality – that it’s our basic tool of survival. We are free to evade the effort of thinking – to reject reason – but we are not free to avoid the penalty of the abyss we refuse to see.
Every person’s life is theirs by right. An individuals life can and must only belong to himself, no to any society or community, or he is then but a slave. No one can deny another person their right to their life, nor seize by force what is produced by someone else, because that is stealing their means to sustain their life. It is treason against mankind to hold a knife to a man’s throat and dictate how he must live his life. No society is more important than the individuals who compose it, or else you ascribe supreme importance, not to man, but to any notion that strikes the fantasy of that society at a never ending cost of lives. Reason and reality are the only means to just laws mindles wishes, if given sovereignty, become deadly masters.
Kahlan guide me. Kahlan teach me. Kahlan protect me. In your light I thrive. In your mercy I am sheltered. In your wisdom I am humbled. I live only to love you. My life is yours.
(From: Wizard’s First Rule)
The Second Rule is that the greatest harm can result from the best intentions. It sounds a paradox, but kindness and good intentions can be an insidious path to destruction. Sometimes doing what seems right is wrong, and can cause harm. The only counter to it is knowledge, wisdom, forethought, and understanding the First Rule. Even then, that is not always enough. (From: Wizard’s First Rule)
On Adversary:
There is no such thing as pure good or pure evil, least of all in people. In the best of us there are thoughts or deeds that are wicked, and in the worst of us, at least some virtue. An adversary is not one who does loathsome acts for their own sake. He always has a reason that to him is justification. My cat eats mice. Does that make him bad? I don’t think so, and the cat doesn’t think so, but I would bet the mice have a different opinion.
(From: Wizard’s First Rule)
No army has ever marched into battle thinking that the Creator had sided with their enemy. (From: Wizard’s First Rule)
On Knowledge:
Knowledge is a weapon. I intend to be formidably armed.
There is no such thing as pure good or pure evil, least of all in people. In the best of us there are thoughts or deeds that are wicked, and in the worst of us, at least some virtue. An adversary is not one who does loathsome acts for their own sake. He always has a reason that to him is justification. My cat eats mice. Does that make him bad? I don’t think so, and the cat doesn’t think so, but I would bet the mice have a different opinion.
Knowledge is a destination. Truth, the journey.
Admitting that you do not know something is the first step to learning.
The first law of reason is that what exists, exists; what is, is, and that from this ineducible, bedrock principle, all knowledge is built…that is the foundation from which life is embraced… thinking is a choice…wishes and whims are not facts, nor are they a means to discover them… reason is our only way of grasping reality–it’s our basic tool of survival. We are free to evade the effort of thinking–to reject reason–but we are not free to avoid the penalty of the abyss we refuse to see… Reason is the very substance of truth itself. The glory that is life is wholly embraced through reason. In rejecting reason one embraces death. (From: Wizard’s First Rule)
On God:
If God is so powerful, can he create a rock which he cannot lift?
No one ever goes into battle thinking God is on the other side.
Other Quotes:
Nothing is ever easy!
Fate does not seek our consent.
Charity, if you have the means, is a personal choice, but charity which is expected or compelled is simply a polite word for slavery.
When the whole world is crazy, it doesn’t pay to be sane.
Nothing gained without cost is valued. Freedom has a cost, and all will bear it so all will value and preserve it.
That is the curse of lying, Sister. Once you place that crown of the liar upon your head, you can take it off again, but it leaves a stain for all time.
