110+ Patrick Rothfuss Quotes On Fantasy, Epic And Insightful

Patrick Rothfuss is an American writer of epic fantasy. He is best known for his series The Kingkiller Chronicle, which has sold millions of copies worldwide. He is also the author of several short stories and a novella, The Slow Regard of Silent Things. Following is our collection on famous quotes by Patrick Rothfuss on love, fantasy, epic.

Top 10 Patrick Rothfuss Quotes

1. Words are pale shadows of forgotten names. As names have power, words have power. Words can light fires in the minds of men. Words can wring tears from the hardest hearts.
2. When we are children we seldom think of the future. This innocence leaves us free to enjoy ourselves as few adults can. The day we fret about the future is the day we leave our childhood behind.
3. I have, of course, been called many other things. Most of them uncouth, although very few were unearned
4. Half of seeming clever is keeping your mouth shut at the right times.
5. It's like everyone tells a story about themselves inside their own head. Always. All the time. That story makes you what you are. We build ourselves out of that story.
6. If I seem to wander, if I seem to stray, remember that true stories seldom take the straightest way
7. There are three things all wise men fear: the sea in storm, a night with no moon, and the anger of a gentle man.
8. Do not mistake me for my mask. You see light dappling on the water and forget the deep, cold dark beneath.
9. You do not know the first note of the music that moves me.
10. It's the questions we can't answer that teach us the most. They teach us how to think.

Patrick Rothfuss Short Quotes

• The world is a mess and I just need to rule it.
• Anger can keep you warm at night, and wounded pride can spur a man to wondrous things.
• Too much truth confuses the facts. Too much honesty makes you sound insincere.
• You,” I said, “are sweet music in a distant room.
• The day we fret about the future is the day we leave our childhood behind.
• Only priests and fools are fearless and I've never been on the best of terms with God.
• We understand how dangerous a mask can be. We all become what we pretend to be.
• That is how heavy a secret can become. It can make blood flow easier than ink.
• Bones mend. Regret stays with you forever.
• Music sounds different to the one who plays it. It is the musician's curse.

Patrick Rothfuss Quotes About Love

...hear rumors and go digging for the painful truth beneath the lovely lies. You believe you have a right to these things, but you don't. When someone tells you a piece of their life, they're giving you a gift, not granting you your due. — Patrick Rothfuss

Just a little. Just the first faint breath of love... It wasn’t dramatic, like some bolt of lightning with a crack of thunder following. It was more like when flint strikes steel and the spark fades almost too fast for you to see. But still, you know it’s there, down where you can’t see, kindling. — Patrick Rothfuss

But to love something despite. To know the flaws and love them too. This is rare and pure and perfect. — Patrick Rothfuss

I grew up reading Tolkien, and I love him. But I love him in the way that you love that rambly old grandfather. You have to sit through some pretty off-topic stuff before he starts telling his cool old war stories. — Patrick Rothfuss

I've read fantasy my whole life. Quite literally; my mom read me The Hobbit before I could read stuff to myself. So I love fantasy; that's what I read for fun, it's what I read professionally to keep abreast of what's in the genre - it's where my heart is. — Patrick Rothfuss

Some tropes are universal. Boy meets girl. Betrayal and revenge. The search to discover a hidden truth.... A mother's love isn't cliché, it's universal. These things are archetypes. They're the building blocks of myth and legend. They are a big part about what it means to be human. — Patrick Rothfuss

Here's the thing: Authors live or die by recommendations. [That's one of the reason I review so many books on Goodreads.] Giving books you love good reviews is one of the nicest things you can do for an author. What's more it's good for the entire community. — Patrick Rothfuss

For me, language is something that I've always loved. When I read, that's what I look for. When I write, that's what I strive for. — Patrick Rothfuss

I'd love to get a chance to talk shop with Joss Whedon. That's pretty high up there on the list. — Patrick Rothfuss

I loved college. I wish I was still taking classes instead of teaching them. — Patrick Rothfuss

Patrick Rothfuss Quotes About Fantasy

It's the questions we can't answer that teach us the most. They teach us how to think. If you give a man an answer, all he gains is a little fact. But give him a question and he'll look for his own answers. — Patrick Rothfuss

When you read a fantasy novel part of the fun is getting to explore a new world. Everyone knows that. But I believe the same is true about characters. You can explore interesting people in the same way that you explore a town or a culture. — Patrick Rothfuss

We have more brilliant fantasy novels than brilliant fantasy movies. Movies and TV are done by committee. But with a novel, it's really just one person running the show. That allows for a clarity and unity of vision that's pretty unique, artistically. — Patrick Rothfuss

Fantasy is a genre that allows me to create anything I want. That, in turn, allows me to explore any sort of idea I'm curious about. I love it because Fantasy is a genre that asks, "What if...?" That's my favorite question. — Patrick Rothfuss

Don't get me wrong, hard and soft fantasy stories can both be good. But you need to know which camp you're in. I'm into realism. I'm a hard fantasy guy. — Patrick Rothfuss

Unfortunately, a lot of fantasy is chock full of sexism and racism. A lot of authors don't even realize they're doing it, and a lot of readers don't know they're reading it. That's what makes it so scary in some cases. — Patrick Rothfuss

I was heavily influenced by my first attempt at a novel. I started a fantasy novel back in high school, and... well... it really sucked. It was a plotless, clichéd mess. — Patrick Rothfuss

I'm not implying that fantasy is for kids. I'm saying that more and more people are finally realizing that there's more to fantasy stories than elves and wizards and goblin armies. — Patrick Rothfuss

I think authors are just realizing there's no real reason to feel limited to a narrow set of genre rules in their writing. There's no reason a mystery novel can't have fantastic elements in it. Similarly, there's no reason why your epic fantasy series can't have elements of a mystery. — Patrick Rothfuss

There is nothing I can't do writing in Fantasy. I can have romance, I can have mystery, I can have drama, I can have good characters - I can have everything you can do in any other genre... plus a dragon. — Patrick Rothfuss

Patrick Rothfuss Famous Quotes And Sayings

There are times when the mind is dealt such a blow it hides itself in insanity. While this may not seem beneficial, it is. There are times when reality is nothing but pain, and to escape that pain the mind must leave reality behind. — Patrick Rothfuss

Re'lar Kvothe," he said seriously. "I am trying to wake your sleeping mind to the subtle language the world is whispering. I am trying to seduce you into understanding. I am trying to teach you." He leaned forward until his face was almost touching mine. "Quit grabbing at my tits. — Patrick Rothfuss

I walked across the polished marble floor and sat on a red velvet lounging couch. I idly wondered how exactly one was supposed to lounge. I couldn't remember ever doing it myself. After a moment's consideration, I decided lounging was probably similar to relaxing, but with more money in your pocket. — Patrick Rothfuss

Remember this son, if you forget everything else. A poet is a musician who can't sing. Words have to find a man's mind before they can touch his heart. And, some men's minds are woeful small targets. Music touches their hearts directly, no matter how small or stubborn the mind of the man who listens. — Patrick Rothfuss

Sleep marks passing time, giving us distance from the things that have hurt us. When a person is wounded they will often fall unconscious. Similarly, someone who hears traumatic news will often swoon or faint. This is the mind's way of protecting itself from pain. — Patrick Rothfuss

All stories are true,” Skarpi said. “But this one really happened, if that’s what you mean.” He took another slow drink, then smiled again, his bright eyes dancing. “More or less. You have to be a bit of a liar to tell a story the right way. Too much truth confuses the facts. Too much honesty makes you sound insincere. — Patrick Rothfuss

Do you know what it's like to run spellcheck for six hours? It's like a party in purgatory. A party in purgatory where all they have to drink is sugar-free Kool-aid, and the only game to play is Monopoly, and none of your friends show up. — Patrick Rothfuss

Reading can almost be viewed as empathy training. Movies have better action scenes, sure. But books are uniquely suited to showing you the inside of another person's head. That is the root of empathy. That's the first step to understanding you're not alone in the world. — Patrick Rothfuss

To deem us simply enemies is to lose the true flavor of our relationship. It was more like the two of us entered into a business partnership in order to more efficiently pursue our mutual interest of hating each other. — Patrick Rothfuss

There is some conflict between religion and science in my world, but that's nothing new. Science, at its root, is a rational discipline. Religion, on the other hand, is fundamentally trans-rational. Both of them attempt to solve problems, but since their methodology is vastly different, they can't help but come into conflict. — Patrick Rothfuss

After a certain point is reached the numbers cease to matter, and all that remains is the faceless mass of a crowd. — Patrick Rothfuss

How odd to watch a mortal kindle / Then to dwindle day by day / Knowing their bright souls are tinder / And the wind will have its way — Patrick Rothfuss

Using words to talk of words is like using a pencil to draw a picture of itself, on itself. Impossible. Confusing. Frustrating ... but there are other ways to understanding. — Patrick Rothfuss

But it isn’t a rough draft either. The one I turned in several months ago was rough. There were some bad plot holes, some logical inconsistencies, pacing problems, and not nearly enough lesbian unicorns. — Patrick Rothfuss

I'm kind of balanced between excited about the potential of the project, and the knowledge that I shouldn't get my hopes up. I like to be practical, and the truth is, these deals fall apart all the time. — Patrick Rothfuss

Truth is a troublesome motherfucker unless it's handled properly — Patrick Rothfuss

Words have to find a man's mind before they can touch his heart, and some men's minds are woefully small targets. — Patrick Rothfuss

Character is half the reason we read. We're excited because of the plot, but we care because of the characters. — Patrick Rothfuss

I also felt guilty about the three pens I'd stolen, but only for a second. And since there was no convenient way to give them back, I stole a bottle of ink before I left. — Patrick Rothfuss

You are not wise enough to fear me as I should be feared. — Patrick Rothfuss

Roses! I swear you men have all your romance from the same worn book. Flowers are a good thing, a sweet thing to give a lady. But it is always roses, always red, and always perfect hothouse blooms when they can come by them. — Patrick Rothfuss

It wasn't even a good note. 'If you are reading this I am probably dead.' What sort of a note is that? — Patrick Rothfuss

You can have an interesting story about a person living an interesting life. And if it's done well, that is just as engaging as the end of the world. A million people dying - we can't process. One person, we can process. — Patrick Rothfuss

I'm a firm supporter of the word polyamory. But that one is close to my heart. — Patrick Rothfuss

Some of my Arcanum bunkmates taught me a card game called dogs-breath. I returned the favor by giving an impromptu lesson in psychology, probability, and manual dexterity. I won almost two whole talents before they stopped inviting me back to their games. — Patrick Rothfuss

I'd like to do an anthology. Maybe a collection of songs set in my world, or based on my world. I think that would be a lot of fun. — Patrick Rothfuss

You lack the requisite spine and testicular fortitude to study under me. — Patrick Rothfuss

Half a King is my favorite book by Joe Abercrombie so far, and that's saying something. — Patrick Rothfuss

He was giving me enough rope to hang myself with. Apparently he didn't realize that once a noose is tied it will fit one neck as easily as another. — Patrick Rothfuss

You have to be a bit of a liar to tell a story the right way. — Patrick Rothfuss

It was the patient, cut-flower sound of a man who is waiting to die. — Patrick Rothfuss

Abenthy gave me an appraising look. I'd been waiting for it. It was the look that said, "You don't sound as young as you look." I hoped he'd come to grips with it fairly soon. It gets tiresome being spoken to as if you are a child, even if you happen to be one. — Patrick Rothfuss

Nobody cooks using just one ingredient. Why would you write using just one flavor of story? — Patrick Rothfuss

The good thing about working on the books for 14 years before they hit the shelves is that I worked out most of the kinks long before they were published. — Patrick Rothfuss

I'll string a fiddle with your guts and make you play it while I dance. — Patrick Rothfuss

The Waystone was his, just as the third silence was his. This was appropriate, as it was the greatest silence of the three, wrapping the others inside itself. It was deep and wide as autumn’s ending. It was heavy as a great river-smooth stone. It was the patient, cut-flower sound of a man who is waiting to die. — Patrick Rothfuss

I know there's a lot of talk about self-publishing right now. Everyone's giddy with the possibilities. And I'll admit that it looks good on paper: sell your books directly and keep a bigger chunk of the profit for yourself. No rejection letters. No hassle with agents. Sounds good, right? — Patrick Rothfuss

Perhaps the greatest faculty our minds possess is the ability to cope with pain. — Patrick Rothfuss

Caffeine helps a lot. That and a certain amount of isolation. — Patrick Rothfuss

Is there a connection between language and magic? Yes. Ten times yes. So much yes that it almost doesn't bear talking about. It's as pointless that arguing that the sun is hot. — Patrick Rothfuss

You are an educated man. You know there are no such things as demons." Bast smiled a terrible smile. "There is only my kind." Bast leaned closer still, Chronicler smelled flowers on his breath. "You are not wise enough to fear me as I should be feared. You do not know the first note of the music that moves me. — Patrick Rothfuss

Now it's virtually impossible to write a game that successfully provides challenge and frustration, and that's a shame. We are going to lose something that makes scientists, that makes doers, that makes hard-minded, witty, clever people, and I worry that those people aren't being made these days. — Patrick Rothfuss

If you can find someone like that, someone who you can hold and close your eyes to the world with, then you're lucky. — Patrick Rothfuss

Denna is a wild thing," I explained. "Like a hind or a summer storm. If a storm blows down your house, or breaks a tree, you don't say the storm was mean. It was cruel. It acted according to its nature and something unfortunately was hurt. The same is true of Denna. — Patrick Rothfuss

The Chancellor looked down at the empty table for a minute. Then he shrugged, looked up, and gave a surprisingly jaunty smile. "All in favor of admitting first-term Kvothe's reckless use of sympathy as proof of mastery of basic principles of sympathy vote by show of hands. — Patrick Rothfuss

I'm not a speed writer. I write slowly and revise obsessively. The end result tends to be good. That's where my strength is. — Patrick Rothfuss

We are more than the parts that form us. — Patrick Rothfuss

Congratulations. That was the stupidest thing I've ever seen. Ever. — Patrick Rothfuss

Feel free to call me by my first name: Master. — Patrick Rothfuss

I have no balance. My life is a hot mess. — Patrick Rothfuss

Dawn was coming. The Waystone Inn lay in silence, and it was a silence of three parts. — Patrick Rothfuss

Metal rusts, music lasts forever. — Patrick Rothfuss

That is like throwing two virgins into a bed. Enthusiasm, passion, and ignorance are not a good combination. Someone is likely to get hurt. — Patrick Rothfuss

Just because I tread heavily on propriety's toes doesn't mean I can't play the game when it's of use to me. — Patrick Rothfuss

I have had a few gentlemen let me know they find my manly beardiness somewhat alluring. Never any ladies though. — Patrick Rothfuss

Why are you smiling?' 'I'm relieved,' I said honestly. 'I was worried I'd given myself cadmium poisoning, or I had some mysterious disease. This is just someone trying to kill me. — Patrick Rothfuss

A troublesome question? Those tend to be the only whorthwhile kind. — Patrick Rothfuss

I swear I've never met a man who has your knack for lack of social grace. If you weren't naturally charming, someone would have stabbed you by now. — Patrick Rothfuss

Owls are wise. They are careful and patient. Wisdom precludes boldness. That is why owls make poor heroes. — Patrick Rothfuss

I was reluctant to talk about my kids on the blog. I kept telling myself, "People aren't coming here for stories about your kids. They want to hear about the upcoming books, writing advice, conventions..." — Patrick Rothfuss

The framed tale is, in my opinion, one of the most natural ways to tell a story. If you think of it, the conceit of the frame-less story is actually the odd way of doing things. Without the frame, how do you know the context for a story? — Patrick Rothfuss

When the hearthfire turns to blue, what to do? what to do? run outside, run and hide when his eyes are black as crow? where to go? where to go? near and far. Here they are. see a man without a face? move like ghosts from place to place. whats their plan? whats their plan? Chandrian. Chandrian — Patrick Rothfuss

85% of modern music doesn't have a damn thing to do with music. It has to do with looking good. Name me one woman on the top ten right now who isn't absolutely smoking hot. You think that's a coincidence? — Patrick Rothfuss

There is a difference between something being essential, and it being necessary. If you take your favorite book and strip it down to what is merely essential to tell the story, it would be butchery. The end result would horrify you. Essential is the bones of the story, but the soul lives somewhere else. — Patrick Rothfuss

My bad luck got tangled up with my bad decisions, and I'm paying for it. — Patrick Rothfuss

Fantasy is my favorite genre for reading and writing. We have more options than anyone else, and the best props and special effects. That means if you want to write a fantasy story with Norse gods, sentient robots, and telepathic dinosaurs, you can do just that. Want to throw in a vampire and a lesbian unicorn while you're at it? Go ahead. — Patrick Rothfuss

Its like he knows he's better than you, but doesn't look down on you for it because he knows it's not your fault. — Patrick Rothfuss

The desire for knowledge shapes a man. — Patrick Rothfuss

When left to its own devices it tends to make me look as if I’ve been set afire. — Patrick Rothfuss

It gets tiresome being spoken to as if you are a child, even if you happen to be one. — Patrick Rothfuss

Each book needs a good beginning and a good ending. People get pissed off when you don't close things off properly at the end. — Patrick Rothfuss

Did I ever mention I used to be a delivery driver too? I was. I can read a map. What’s more, using a brilliant mixture of zen navigation, Aristotelian logic, and pure rage I can get you your package and/or delicious sandwich relatively close to on-time. — Patrick Rothfuss

Knowing your own ignorance is the first step to enlightenment. — Patrick Rothfuss

Words are pale shadows of forgotten names. As names have power, words have power. Words can light fires in the minds of men. Words can wring tears from the hardest hearts. There are seven words that will make a person love you. There are ten words that will break a strong man's will. But a word is nothing but a painting of a fire. A name is the fire itself. — Patrick Rothfuss

I believe it, Chronicler found himself thinking. Before it was just a story, but now I can believe it. This is the face of a man who has killed an angel. — Patrick Rothfuss

It’s not over if you’re still here,” Chronicler said. “It’s not a tragedy if you’re still alive. — Patrick Rothfuss

Reading is professionally important for me to keep tuned in to what's being written in my genre, let's not lie. But that's not the reason I read. I read for my own emotional and mental health. If I stopped reading, I'd probably just die. — Patrick Rothfuss

Just pity him, my boy. Tomorrow we'll be on our way, but he'll have to keep his own disagreeable company until the day he dies. — Patrick Rothfuss

The second was some rather bad poetry, but it was short, and I forced my way through by gritting my teeth and occasionally closing one eye so as not to damage the entirety of my brain. — Patrick Rothfuss

I smiled,"Deoch, my heart is made of stronger stuff than glass. When she strikes she'll find it strong as iron-bound brass, or gold and adamant together mixed. Don't think I am unaware, some startled deer to stand transfixed by hunter's horns. It's she who should take care, for when she strikes, my heart will make a sound so beautiful and bright that it can't help but bring her back to me in winged light. — Patrick Rothfuss

If I'd been whoring before class and waved a corset at him, no one would have thought twice about it! — Patrick Rothfuss

So yes. It had flaws, but what does that matter when it comes to matters of the heart? We love what we love. Reason does not enter into it. In many ways, unwise love is the truest love. Anyone can love a thing because. That's as easy as putting a penny in your pocket. But to love something despite. To know the flaws and love them too. That is rare and pure and perfect. — Patrick Rothfuss

Life Lessons by Patrick Rothfuss

1. Patrick Rothfuss teaches us to never give up on our dreams, no matter how difficult the journey may be. He also encourages us to remain open to new ideas and experiences, as these can often lead to unexpected opportunities. Finally, he reminds us to stay true to our values and beliefs, as they are what will ultimately guide us to success.