Top 120 Michael J. Sullivan Quotes (2026 Update)
Page 3 of 3

101. “Well, I did see The Crown Conspiracy while in Colnora. I found the sets pathetic and the orchestration horrible, but the story was good.”

— Michael J. Sullivan

102. “Desire can be painful, but so can regret.”

— Michael J. Sullivan

103. “There were times Hadrian wondered if Royce was actually a cat that some mischievous witch had turned into a man and then lost track of. The similarities were too numerous to be coincidental. An irritatingly-superior aloof nature, fastidiousness, a habit of roaming at night, and his general propensity for solitude were all evidence.”

— Michael J. Sullivan

104. “The more you know about the past, the easier it is to divine the future.”

— Michael J. Sullivan

105. “There always seemed to be a better way, except when it came to people. Once broken, people couldn’t be repaired.”

— Michael J. Sullivan

106. “Courageous hearts weren’t banned from the breast of women.”

— Michael J. Sullivan

107. “Alric looked up at the thief with a scowl. “I just want to say for the record that as far as royal protectors go, you’re not very good.” “It’s my first day,” Royce replied dryly.”

— Michael J. Sullivan

108. “It’s never good when a tree screams.”

— Michael J. Sullivan

109. “Okay, let’s say you’re a cat and Hadrian’s a dog and you want to make him happy. You give him a dead mouse and are surprised when he isn’t thrilled. The problem is that you need to see the world through the eyes of a dog to understand what’s best for him. If you did, you would see that a nice juicy bone would be a better choice, even though to a cat it’s not very appealing.”

— Michael J. Sullivan

110. “That was why nights were so frightening. Without the distraction of light, the doors to other senses were unlocked.”

— Michael J. Sullivan

111. “Royce is a survivor. You’ve never seen the beast, and he’s lived his whole life in its stomach, yet managed not to be digested.”

— Michael J. Sullivan

112. “So often I have heard that war is a noble and necessary thing, the answer to many problems. But I have found that when war becomes a reality, peace becomes the noble and necessary thing because there is no problem greater than war.”

— Michael J. Sullivan

113. “That’s what stories are for, Brin realized. They are magic that aid people in times like this. They provide hope, a light to see by when all others are snuffed out.”

— Michael J. Sullivan

114. “Steep paths build muscles, know-how, and empathy, an easy one, only indifference.”

— Michael J. Sullivan

115. “Royce smiled. “See, you can always count on people doing what is best for themselves.” “Like I did?” Hadrian said. The smile left Royce’s lips. “You’re a freak of nature or the world’s greatest fool. I’m still trying to figure that out.”

— Michael J. Sullivan

116. “Accept that you‘re going to get hurt, that you‘re going to die; embrace it, and you‘ll find the freedom to live.”

— Michael J. Sullivan

117. “Royce reached out and deliberately knocked Hadrian’s mug over, spilling the ale across the end of the table and onto the floor. Hadrian pushed away from the table and looked at Royce, surprised. “What’d you do that for?” “You didn’t get wet, did you?” He had a bemused look on his face. “No.” Royce watched the ale drip off the end of the table for a moment. “That’s because I knew where the ale would go. Besides, I need you sober, because if this fails, we might have to kill a lot of people.”

— Michael J. Sullivan

118. “I know nothing about war. But let me tell you what I believe. I think running from responsibility breeds self-loathing and despair. I think people can, and do, rise to the occasion, and even a single person can make an incredible difference. What they need are leaders who believe in them, a belief that gives birth to hope. With hope, people can do remarkable things, amazing things.”

— Michael J. Sullivan

119. “Wouldn’t matter,” Suri said. “Regardless where you’re born, the world has a way of finding you and ruining everything.”

— Michael J. Sullivan

120. “A lot can be determined by the choices we make, even if the action is initiated by self-preservation. Many... no, most... of our choices are driven by fear: fear of death, fear of humiliation, fear of loneliness. But it’s how we respond to fear that matters. It’s what defines us. What makes us who we are. So maybe in your mind you acted selfishly, but I’m alive because of the choice you made. So I’ll remember it as an act of kindness and yes, even bravery.”

— Michael J. Sullivan

121. “Wars don’t end by deaths,” Malcom added, “but because someone stops killing.”

— Michael J. Sullivan

122. “Hadrian was not convinced but knew there was no reason to argue further. Gwen was not the type for debate. Most women he knew invited discussion and even enjoyed arguments, but not Gwen. There was clarity to her thinking that let you know she had already made her own journey to the inevitable conclusion and was just politely waiting there for you to join her. In her own way, she was much like Royce – except for the polite waiting.”

— Michael J. Sullivan

123. “Royce’s tone shifted between amazed and angry but finally settled on a nice restrained tempest.”

— Michael J. Sullivan

124. “Freedom, he discovered, had built a greater prison than his family or clan had.”

— Michael J. Sullivan

125. “Their business was profitable but ugly. Just another game he played in a world where heroes were legends and honor was a myth.”

— Michael J. Sullivan

126. “Just another game he played in a world where heroes were legends and honor was a myth.”

— Michael J. Sullivan

127. “When faced with certain death, running is sensible, but I think a man can make an unhealthy habit of it. Running can take on an importance of its own and become an excuse to avoid living a normal life.”

— Michael J. Sullivan

128. “I hope you’re planning on heading to the kitchens. I’m starved – practically eating my fingers here.” He chuckled.”

— Michael J. Sullivan

129. “You sacrificed yourself to save us; good for you, but you only had to do it once.”

— Michael J. Sullivan

130. “Royce had the hearing of a bat. He could practically listen in on what was happening tomorrow.”

— Michael J. Sullivan