Eddard Stark – Character Quotes

— Lord BaeIish, perhaps I was wrong to distrust you.
— Distrusting me was the wisest thing you've done since you climbed off your horse.

The man who passes the sentence should swing the sword.

I don't fight in tournaments... because when I fight a man for real, I don't want him to know what I can do.

— What you suggest is treason.
— Only if we lose.

War was easier than daughters.

— What madness led you to tell the queen you had learned the truth about Joffrey's birth?
— The madness of mercy. That she might save her children.
— Ah, the chiIdren. lt's aIways the innocents who suffer. It wasn't the wine that killed Robert, nor the boar. The wine sIowed him down and the boar ripped him open, but it was your mercy
that kiIIed the king.

You grew up with actors. You learned their craft and you learnt it well. But I grew up with soldiers. I learned how to die a long time ago.

— How did he get so fat?
— He only stops eating when it's time for a drink.

A madman sees what he sees.

— Very handsome armor. Not a scratch on it.
— I know. People have been swinging at me for years, but they always seem to miss.
— You've chosen your opponents wisely then.
— I have a knack for it.

— Lord Eddard Stark... I would name you the Hand of the King.
— I'm not worthy of the honour.
— I'm not trying to honour you. I'm trying to get you to run my kingdom, while I eat, drink and whore my way to an early grave.

— Tell me something, Varys. Who do you truly serve?
— The realm, my lord. Someone must.

— Gold wins wars, not soldiers.
— Then how come Robert is king and not Tywin Lannister?

— Tomorrow I'm going to be chasing cats.
— Cats? Syrio says?
— He says every swordsman shouId study cats. They're as quiet as shadows and as Iight as feathers. You have to be quick to catch them.
— He's right about that.

— Well... Look at me. You're a Stark of Winterfell. You know our words.
— Winter is coming.
— You were born in the long summer. You've never known anything else. But now winter is truly coming. And in the winter, we must protect ourselves, look after one another.

— I have no choice.
— That's what men always say when honour calls. That's what you tell your families, tell yourselves. You do have a choice. And you've made it.