To be part of a family, or any community, is to have duties and responsibility, to be bound by the rules of that group.

— Robin Hobb

To sate your need without love is theft

— Robin Hobb

We were both smiling, in that bittersweet way one does when imagining something the heart longs for and the head would dread.

— Robin Hobb

What is a secret? It is much more than knowledge shared with only a few, or perhaps only one another. It is power. Furthermore, it is a bond. Furthermore, it is a sign of deep trust, or the darkest threat possible.... Be very chary of revealing your hoarded secrets. Many lose all power once they have been divulged. Be even more careful of sharing your secrets lest you find yourself a puppet dancing on someone else's strings.

— Robin Hobb

What is a secret? It is much more than knowledge shared with only a few, or perhaps only one another. It is power. Furthermore, it is a bond. Furthermore, it is a sign of deep trust, or the darkest threat possible. There is power in the keeping of a secret, and power in the revelation of a secret. Sometimes it takes a very wise man to discern which is the path to greater power. All men desirous of power should become collectors of secrets. There is no secret too small to be valuable. All men value their own secrets far above those of others. A scullery maid may be willing to betray a prince before allowing the name of her secret lover to be told.

— Robin Hobb

When has been disappointed for so long, hope becomes the enemy. One cannot be dashed to the earth unless one is lifted first, and I learned to avoid hope.

— Robin Hobb

When the mainstay of one's world is taken away, it's only natural to cling to all the rest, to try desperately to keep things as close to the way they were as one can." He shook his head sorrowfully. "But no one can ever go back to yesterday.

— Robin Hobb

When you cut pieces out of the truth to avoid looking like a fool you end up looking like a moron instead.

— Robin Hobb

When you cut pieces out of the truth to avoid looking like a fool, you end up sounding like a moron instead.

— Robin Hobb

When you want a thing so badly for so long, and then it comes time to face that you cannot have it, sometimes—’‘Sometimes you can’t believe it when it comes to you. Sometimes you’re afraid to believe it. I understand your hesitation.

— Robin Hobb