But influence is largely a matter of patience, I have found. Once I had served the sorcerer's purpose, he threw me out of his house to die. I resolved to live to spite him. I begged. I sold what pans of my body remained to me. I became an excellent thief, and soon learned that the contents of a man's letters are more valuable than the contents of ms purse Step by step. one distasteful task after another, I made my way from the shims of Myr to the Small Council chamber Influence grows like a weed. I tended mine patiently until its tendrils reached from the Red Keep all the way across to the far side of the world, where I managed to wrap them around something very special.
Men decide where power resides, whether or not they know it.
I am not a torturer. Though it so often is what people deserve. And it does provide answers. But they're usually the wrong answers. My job is to find the right answers. Do you know how I do that? I do it by making people happy.
— You made a pact with fanatics.
— I did and it worked.
— If you shaved your beard with a straight razor, you'd say the razor worked. That doesn't mean it won't cut your throat.
There is no creature on earth half so terrifying as a truly just man.
Cersei is no fool. She knows a tame wolf is more use to her than a dead one.
Have you considered the best ruler might be someone who doesn't want to rule?
— We're discussing treason.
— Don't pretend you haven't thought about it.
— Of course I've thought about it. Thoughts aren't treason.
— How many others know?
— Including us? Eight.
— Well, then it's not a secret anymore. It's information. If a handful of people know now, hundreds will know soon.
— If Robb Stark falls, Sansa Stark is the key to the North.
— And if he marries her, he'll have the key in his pocket.