B. The Well of Ascension

The Well of Ascension

Highlights

She wasn’t like Elend; she didn’t need a logical explanation for everything. — location: 140

she certainly wasn’t someone any man would find intimidating. She liked that. It gave her an edge—and she needed every edge she could get. — location: 144

diaphanous — location: 318

quibbled — location: 393

She was like no one he had ever known—a woman of simple, yet honest, beauty and wit. However, she did sometimes worry him. — location: 520

Frustrated at times. But lucky. Vin and he hadn’t discussed his marriage proposal and her refusal, though Elend often thought of the encounter. Women are difficult enough to understand, he thought, and I had to go and pick the oddest one of the lot. Still, he couldn’t really complain. She loved him. He could deal with her idiosyncrasies. — location: 547

Vin liked to be unobtrusive, but she loved wearing scents—and got annoyed at him if he didn’t notice when she was trying out a new one. She seemed suspicious and paranoid, yet she trusted her friends with a dogmatic loyalty. — location: 587

Sazed searched through his religions coppermind for an appropriate theology. He started with an index—one of the many that he had created. When he had located an appropriate religion, he retrieved detailed memories about its practices. The writings entered his mind as fresh as when he had barely finished memorizing them. Like all memories they would fade with time, but he intended to place them back in the coppermind long before that happened. It was the way of the Keeper, the method by which his people retained enormous wealths of information. — location: 683

Being a good man doesn’t always — location: 915

“Now, see, you don’t understand how clever that is of me,” he said. “If people can’t tell when I’m being an idiot and when I’m being a genius, perhaps they’ll assume my blunders are brilliant political maneuverings.” — location: 939

“Good men don’t need to become legends.” She opened her eyes, looking up at him. “They simply do what’s right anyway.” — location: 1003

His concern was so genuine that Vin felt herself being persuaded. — location: 1039

the tension of the last few days had been so pressing that he was finding it difficult to get up the motivation to do yet another read-through of the speech. What he really needed was to spend a few moments thinking. — location: 1106

Ball gowns and dresses were beautiful—but there was something right about Vin in simple garb. She wore it more comfortably. — location: 1110

It was strange how the members of Kelsier’s crew could laugh and make light, even during the most terrible of situations. They had a way of making him forget about his problems. — location: 1267

During the days before the Collapse, Sazed had often imagined what the world would be like once the Lord Ruler was gone. He had pictured the Keepers emerging, bringing forgotten knowledge and truths to an excited, thankful populace. He’d imagined teaching before a warm hearth at night, telling stories to an eager audience. He’d never stopped to consider a village stripped of its working men, whose people were too exhausted at night to bother with tales from the past. He’d never imagined a people who seemed more annoyed by his presence than thankful. — location: 1315

The Keepers who had come before him, the hundreds who had died safeguarding their knowledge in secret, had never expected praise or accolades. They had performed their great task with solemn anonymity. — location: 1320

Something so large, so big, that it was effectively invisible? Or do I merely want there to be something else? he wondered. I’ve spent most of my adult life resisting and fighting, taking risks — location: 1336

“The rest of the Final Empire has need of me too, Marsh. I am a Keeper—one group of people should not be able to monopolize all of my time.” — location: 1647

Sazed knew that there were modes of protection that didn’t relate to fighting. These things—support, counsel, kindness—were vital to every person, — location: 1656

divests — location: 1806

adroit — location: 1961

Once she had found his intrusions offensive, but she was growing to understand that touching people’s emotions was simply part of who Breeze was. Just as a beautiful woman demanded attention by virtue of her face and figure, Breeze drew it by near unconscious use of his powers. — location: 2031

Visual memories were less useful than spoken words. Visualizations faded very quickly once taken out of a coppermind, suffering from the mind’s distortion. Plus, they could not be passed to other Keepers. — location: 2263

waif — location: 2488

“What is a government but an institutionalized method of making sure somebody else does all the work?” — location: 2670

masochists. — location: 2683

linchpin — location: 2695

“Don’t hedge. Command.” — location: 2751

slovenly — location: 2761

“Don’t ask questions; say what you mean. If you object, object—don’t leave your words up to my interpretation.” — location: 2763

All of the brilliant ideas in the world cannot save your kingdom if no one will listen to them.” — location: 2771

She hadn’t ever seen Elend depressed, but he did get discouraged. He had so many ideas, so many plans and hopes, that she sometimes wondered how he kept them all straight. She would have said he lacked focus; Reen had always said focus kept a thief alive. But Elend’s dreams were so entwined in who he was. She doubted he could discard them. She didn’t think she would want him to, for they were part of what she loved about him. — location: 2820

“Sometimes giving up is better than failing. — location: 2826

she’d rather trust him and be wrong than deal with the worry of mistrust. — location: 2907

gazetteer. — location: 2951

Unapplied knowledge benefited no one. — location: 2958

husbandry — location: 2966

fringes — location: 3165

“My experience has been that the man is usually made by the situation. — location: 3189

acceded — location: 3231

“A good king is one who is trusted by his people—and one who deserves that trust.” — location: 3315

chagrin, — location: 3370

That was one nice thing about books and notes: Those could always wait for another time. — location: 3377

he found insanity no excuse for irrational behavior. Some men were blind, others had poor tempers. Still others heard voices. It was all the same in the end. A man was defined not by his flaws, but by how he overcame them. — location: 3612

hillock, — location: 3898

People were too complex to reduce to simple personality traits. — location: 4084

“How can I not feel guilty then?” “You have to feel confident that your actions are the best,” Tindwyl explained. “You have to know that no matter how bad things get, they would be worse without you. When disaster occurs, you take responsibility, but you don’t wallow or mope. You aren’t allowed that luxury; guilt is for lesser men. You simply need to do what is expected.” — location: 4176

Whatever you do, be confident.” — location: 4199

“Successful leaders all share one common trait—they believe that they can do a better job than the alternatives. Humility is fine when considering your responsibility and duty, but when it comes time to make a decision, you must not question yourself.” — location: 4200

Day was an impatient sigh awaiting the night. — location: 4358

“You’re too smart to be bothered by that.” — location: 4448

“Anonymity. Hiding, even when you’re with others. Being quiet, unobtrusive. Forcing yourself to stay apart—emotionally, at least. It’s a way of life. A protection.” — location: 4489

“Harsh men who fear your competence. The only way to keep them from hating you is to make certain they don’t pay attention to you. So, you make yourself look small and weak. Not a threat. But sometimes you say the wrong thing, or you let your rebelliousness show.” — location: 4491

men hate what they fear.” — location: 4498

“Sometimes a bad situation is still better than the alternative. You did what you needed to do to survive.” — location: 4527

And even if one of them were to betray me, I’d still rather have trusted them. I can sleep at night, OreSeur. I can feel peace, I can laugh. Life is different. Better.” — location: 4537

Elend sat back, feeling a looming anxiety. It was good to have Vin’s arm around him, even if she didn’t say much—sometimes he felt stronger simply because of her presence. — location: 4671

Every scholar knew that one of the greatest dangers in research was the desire to find a specific answer. — location: 4798

“Anyone who would feel disappointed to find you is too dense to be of any relevance,” Elend said. “I don’t want you to be like them, Vin. They’re not honest. They don’t care. I like you as you are.” — location: 5436

“But I’d like you however you were, Vin. I love you. The question is, how do you like yourself?” — location: 5440

All the planning in the world could go out the window with Vin around—but what she did instead was usually better. — location: 5583

Sometimes he sounds like those books he reads, Vin thought. Not like a normal man at all … but like words on a page. — location: 5900

Vin had rarely seen Elend so sorrowful, and she cringed a bit at the sadness in his eyes. However, a different piece of her was rebelliously happy. He wasn’t king anymore. Now maybe people wouldn’t work so hard to kill him. Maybe he could just be Elend again, and they could leave. Go somewhere. A place where things weren’t so complicated. — location: 5906

His depression seemed to be abating in face of this new academic problem. — location: 6010

when I finally lie down, I find sleep elusive. The same thoughts that trouble me during the day are only compounded by the stillness of night.… — location: 6108

malignance. — location: 6291

doesn’t use research techniques. She just uses instinct. And she’s usually right. — location: 6322

I simply have a scholar’s mind, and must question and consider information when I am given it. I am far too fond of arguing, I think.” — location: 6373

castigation — location: 6589

A threat is only a promise turned around. — location: 6717

It seems that the rebels found the chaos of transition more difficult to accept than the tyranny they had known before. They joyfully welcomed back authority—even oppressive authority—for it was less painful for them than uncertainty. — location: 6790

Shouldn’t a religion teach something practical?” — location: 6836

“Do not dismiss someone’s beliefs because you do not understand them, — location: 6840

part of me is tempted to think that all these prophecies and legends were devised by priests who wanted to make a living.” — location: 6841

“Prophecies do not have to be a scam, mistress,” OreSeur said. “Or even really a promise for the future. They can simply be an expression of hope.” — location: 6845

“We all need secrets.” — location: 6896

“I can find little joy in this government, — location: 7000

“I hate this,” she finally whispered. “What, mistress?” “This … distrust,” she said. “I hate being suspicious of my friends. I thought I was through mistrusting those around me. I feel like a knife is twisting in my gut, and it cuts deeper every time I confront one of the crew.” — location: 7027

Ham had a good mind for abstract thinking, but he wasn’t a scholar. He liked to think up questions and answers, but he didn’t have experience studying a text in detail, searching out its meaning and implications. — location: 7090

He’d always been well-intentioned, but he’d rarely been able to deliver. That was going to change. — location: 7102

you can’t avoid politics by pretending you’re not part of them. — location: 7117

codified — location: 7127

“Too competent for your own good?” — location: 7129

I still do not believe that your duty is to do as the people wish. Your duty is to lead as best you can, following the dictates of your conscience. You must be true, Your Majesty, to the man you wish to become. If that man is not whom the people wish to have lead them, then they will choose someone else.” — location: 7172

If I shouldn’t be an exception to my own laws, I shouldn’t be an exception to my own ethics either. — location: 7175

“Trying to guess what people wish of you will only lead to chaos, I think,” Sazed said. “You cannot please them all, — location: 7177

The pressures are forcing him to change, to either step up and lead or get crushed. — location: 7234

Why hate a man for what he is? Elend has done nothing to me, not directly. — location: 7322

Standing before her mirror, Vin thought of what it might have been like to wear the dress to a real ball. To be herself—not Valette the uncomfortable country noblewoman. Not even Vin the skaa thief. To be herself. Or at least as she could imagine herself. Confident because she accepted her place as a Mistborn. Confident because she accepted her place as the one who had struck down the Lord Ruler. Confident because she knew the king loved her. — location: 7349

“He is learning that he can rely only so much upon the words of others, and has reached the point where he will have to learn more for himself. You would be surprised, child, how much about being a good leader simply comes from experience.” — location: 7365

A man can only stumble for so long before he either falls or stands up straight.” — location: 7370

how strangely nonconfrontational Ham was? He liked to argue with friends, but he rarely came to any conclusions in his philosophizing. — location: 7686

It’s a wonderful feeling, being able to influence those around you, always feeling like you have a handle on how people will react.” “Sounds delightful,” Clubs said flatly. “Yet it does things to you. I spend most of my time watching people—tweaking, nudging, and Soothing. That’s changed me. I don’t … look at people the same way. It’s hard to simply be friends with someone when you see them as something to be influenced and changed.” — location: 7720

You’re the most contrite rebel I’ve ever known.” — location: 7990

eyes, with the knowledge and love of learning that only a Keeper could claim. — location: 8007

“Sometimes people only seem determined upon one course because they have been offered no other options.” — location: 8011

fact, I think it’s what I’ve been missing through most of my reign. Arrogance.” “Self-confidence.” “A nicer word for the same concept,” — location: 8071

Only a delicate mixture of bribery, threats, and manipulation kept Zane under control. — location: 8464

Zane didn’t make sense. He didn’t have to. That was perhaps one of the advantages of being insane. — location: 8479

quelled, — location: 8510

A man who would rather believe that the people who had dethroned him were simply trying to do the right thing. — location: 8617

Yet when the others got sick, she sensed frustration from them. Not terror. When sick, Elend would spend the day in bed, reading books. Ham had taken a bad blow during practice several months before, and he had grumbled about the pain, but had stayed off his leg for a few days without much prodding. Vin was growing to be more like them. She could lie in bed as she did now, knowing that nobody would try to slit her throat while she was too weak to call for help. Still, she itched to rise, to show that she wasn’t very badly wounded. Lest someone think otherwise, and try to take advantage. It isn’t like that anymore! she told herself. — location: 8737

“Cannot a human man love his father, yet not believe he is a good person?” — location: 8802

They had been the perfect place for a young man who didn’t care to be found. — location: 8988

But a man must be cohesive with himself. You have made your decisions in life, and changing yourself at the last moment—telling this lie—would have been against who you are. — location: 9045

Elend knew that determination, that firmness of step. It came from the satisfaction of doing something other than sitting around and waiting for fate—or kings—to act. — location: 9178

“It’s easy to believe in something when you win all the time, Jastes,” Elend said, opening his eyes. “The losses are what define a man’s faith.” — location: 9371

Be firm, he told himself. You can afford to seem worried, but you mustn’t ever seem uncertain. — location: 9732

Love must be allowed to flow both ways—if it does not, then it is not truly love, I think. It is something else. Infatuation, perhaps? In any case, there are some of us who are far too quick to make martyrs of ourselves. We stand at the side, watching, thinking that we do the right thing by inaction. We fear pain—our own or that of another.” — location: 10035

“It is hard to defend others when our own lives are in turmoil,” — location: 10057

“At first glance, the key and the lock it fits may seem very different,” Sazed said. “Different in shape, different in function, different in design. The man who looks at them without knowledge of their true nature might think them opposites, for one is meant to open, and the other to keep closed. Yet upon closer examination, he might see that without one, the other becomes useless. The wise man then knows that both lock and key were created for the same purpose.” — location: 10095

In Zane’s opinion, dying someday was better than dying today. — location: 10402

Zane had been broken by life just as she had been, but both had put themselves back together. Had the re-forming made them stronger, or more fragile? — location: 10525

This isn’t a decision to be made lightly, under the influence of strong emotions.” — location: 10841

Those who take lightly promises they make to those they love are people who find little lasting satisfaction in life. — location: 10864

This is not an easy time in which to live. That does not mean that it has to be a difficult time to love, — location: 10865

“They thought art drew one closer to God,” Sazed said. “They were most interested in color and hue, and they were fond of writing poetry describing the colors they saw in the world around them.” — location: 11464

It is a symbol of the Dadradah faith. To its people, being an artist was an even higher calling than being a priest.” — location: 11473

There was nothing like simple contrast to awaken a man’s sense of indomitability. And there was nothing that could sap that sensation more quickly than the prospect of meeting with the woman he loved. — location: 11491

And reasons were weak comforts anyway. — location: 11605

addled. — location: 12088

watchfires.” — location: 12846

Which was more potent? The pain of memory, or the pain of forgetting? He was a Keeper—it was his life’s work to remember. Forgetting, even in the name of personal peace, was not something that appealed to him. — location: 13045

And indeed, how can a humble man be expected to conquer the world?” — location: 13066

But must not even a madman rely on his own mind, — location: 13613