The Wheel of Time series by renowned author Robert Jordan is one of the most beloved fantasy series since Lord of the Rings. Jordan, born James Oliver Rigney Jr released the first of his famous series, The Eye of the World, in 1981.
The series spans fourteen books as well as a prequel novel was adapted into a television series in 2022. The last three books in the series were co-written with Brandon Sanderson, known for his Mistborn Trilogy, after Jordan’s illness and death. This series has been a staple for fantasy fans for over forty years.
While writers such as Mark Twain and Oscar Wilde are known for their witticisms and adages, fans of the series know that Jordan’s work too was full of such sayings. While some are meant for humor and some are more serious, each book is a veritable Poor Richard’s Almanac, chock full of small instructive truths. In Knife of Dreams, Jordan’s narration observes “That had the irritating sound of an old saying,” seemingly poking fun at the phrases that are a hallmark of his work.
Join us as we take a look at some of Jordan’s most famous sayings:
“Violence harms the one who does it as much as the one who receives it. You could cut down a tree with an axe. The axe does violence to the tree, and escapes unharmed. Is that how you see it?
Wood is soft compared to steel, but the sharp steel is dulled as it chops, and the sap of the tree will rust and pit it. The mighty axe does violence to the helpless tree, and is harmed by it. So it is with men, though the harm is in the spirit.” The Eye of the World
“There is one rule, above all others, for being a man. Whatever comes, face it on your feet.” The Great Hunt
“Death comes to us all; we can only choose how to face it when it comes.” The Dragon Reborn
“You have made a place in my heart where I thought there was no room for anything else. You have made flowers grow where I cultivated dust and stones. Remember this, on this journey you insist on making. If you die, I will not survive you long.” The Shadow Rising
“The oak fought the wind and was broken, the willow bent when it must and survived.” The Fires of Heaven
“We are always more afraid than we wish to be, but we can always be braver than we expect.” The Lord of Chaos
“The spine that refused to bend at all was often the most malleable once it gave way.” A Crown of Swords
“Who knows a woman's heart? Most women will shrug off what a man would kill you for and kill you for what a man would shrug off.” The Path of Daggers
“You can never know everything, and part of what you know is always wrong. Perhaps even the
most important part. A portion of wisdom lies in knowing that. A portion of courage lies in going on anyway.” Winter’s Heart
“If you tried to solve every problem yourself, you ended by solving none.” Crossroads of Twilight
“A beautiful battle is one you don't have to fight.” Knife of Dreams
“The more power a man held, the more likely he was to be an idiot with it.” The Gathering Storm by Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson
“The newest pups always blame the elders of the pack.” Towers of Midnight by Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson
“Being polite to a person is not a sign of respect for them. It is merely a sign of a good upbringing and a balanced nature.” A Memory of Light by Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson
