Steelheart Quotes

“Never throw the first punch. If you have to throw the second, try to make sure they don't get up for a third.”
― Brandon Sanderson, Steelheart

“Sometimes, son," my father said, prying my fingers free, "you have to help the heroes along.”
― Brandon Sanderson, Steelheart

“You can't be so frightened of what might happen that you are unwilling to act.”
― Brandon Sanderson, Steelheart

“I know, better than anyone else, that there are no heroes coming to save us. There are no good Epics. None of them protect us. Power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.”
― Brandon Sanderson, Steelheart

“Where there are villains, there will be heroes. Just wait. They will come.”
― Brandon Sanderson, Steelheart

“We were like deaf people trying to dance to a beat we couldn't hear, long after the music actually stopped.”
― Brandon Sanderson, Steelheart

“I have a smoke grenade in my room," I said.
"What?" Megan asked. "How?"
"I grew up working at a munitions plant," I said. "We mostly made rifles and handguns, but we worked with other factories. I got to pick up the occasional goody from the QC reject pile."
"A smoke grenade is a goody?" Cody asked.
I frowned. What did he mean? Of course it was. Who wouldn't want a smoke grenade when offered one?”
― Brandon Sanderson, Steelheart

“You've got passion to kill but you need to find passion to live.”
― Brandon Sanderson, Steelheart

“They looked so dangerous, like alligators. Really fast alligators wearing black. Ninja alligators. I decided not to use that one on Megan.”
― Brandon Sanderson, Steelheart

“Incredible cosmic powers do not equate with high IQ.”
― Brandon Sanderson, Steelheart

“I've seen Steelheart bleed.
And I will see him bleed again.”
― brandon sanderson, Steelheart

“It's like a banana farm for guns!”
― Brandon Sanderson, Steelheart

“Whoa. Not too stiff," Cody said. "Secure, strong, but calm. Like you're caressing a beautiful woman, remember?"
That made me think of Megan.
I lost control, and a green wave of smoky energy burst from my hand and flew out in front of me. It missed the pipe completely, but vaporized the metal leg of the chair it sat on. Dust showered down and the chair went lopsided, dumping the pipe to the floor with a clang.
"Sparks," Cody said. "Remind me to never let you caress me, lad.”
― Brandon Sanderson, Steelheart

“Don't just act because you can; act because it's the right thing to do. If you keep that in mind, you'll be all right.”
― Brandon Sanderson, Steelheart

“He was right. I was letting myself get distracted, like a rabbit doing math problems instead of looking for foxes.”
― Brandon Sanderson, Steelheart

“But even a ninety-year-old blind priest would stop and stare at this woman. If he weren’t blind, that is. Dumb metaphor, I thought. I’ll have to work on that one. I have trouble with metaphors.”
― Brandon Sanderson, Steelheart

“I was ten,” I said. “Give me a little credit.”
“To a boy with aspirations like that, I would extend my respect—but not credit. Or life insurance.” Abraham sounded amused. “You are an interesting man, David Charleston, but you sound like you were an even more interesting child.”
― Brandon Sanderson, Steelheart

“She can shoot like a dream and she carries tiny grenades in her top, a bit of my addled mind thought. I think I might be in love.”
― Brandon Sanderson, Steelheart

“I hadn’t been fighting because of my father’s death. I fought because of his dreams.”
― Brandon Sanderson, Steelheart

“What do you trust when your own thoughts and emotions seem to hate you?”
― Brandon Sanderson, Steelheart

“I have keen eyes. I once caught a leprechaun you know."
I looked at him skeptically. "Aren't those Irish?"
"Sure. He was over in the homeland on an exchange basis. We sent the Irish three turnips and a sheep's bladder in trade."
"Doesn't seem like much of a trade."
"Oh, I think it was a sparking good one, seeing as to leprechauns are imaginary and all. Hello, Prof. How's your kilt?"
"As imaginary as your leprechaun”
― Brandon Sanderson, Steelheart

“It’s good for you to think of this, son. Ponder. Worry. Stay up nights, frightened for the casualties of your ideology. It will do you good to realize the price of fighting.”
― Brandon Sanderson, Steelheart

“The buzzing was like the eager purr of a muscle car that had just been started, but left in neutral. That was another of Cody’s metaphors for it; I’d said the sensation felt like an unbalanced washing machine filled with a hundred epileptic chimpanzees. Pretty proud of that one.”
― Brandon Sanderson, Steelheart

“I've seen Steelheart bleed”
― Brandon Sanderson, Steelheart

“Prof's ability makes mine look like a piece of rice. And not even a cooked one.”
― Brandon Sanderson, Steelheart

“Can I borrow David?” “Please, Prof,” Cody said, “we’re friends. You should know by now that you needn’t ask something like that … you should be well aware of my standard charge for renting one of my minions. Three pounds and a bottle of whiskey.” I wasn’t sure if I should be more insulted at being called a minion, or at the low price to rent me.”
― Brandon Sanderson, Steelheart

“Live, David," he said softly. "Live your life."
"I'm doing that," I grumbled.
"No. You are letting Steelheart live your life for you. He controls it, each step of the way. Live your own life.”
― Brandon Sanderson, Steelheart

“I trust you with their lives,' Prof said, still writing, 'and them with yours. Don't betray that trust, son. Keep your impulses in check. Don't just act because you can; act because it's the right thing to do. If you keep that in mind, you'll be all right.”
― Brandon Sanderson, Steelheart

“But since then you've acted like I was a gorilla at your buffet."
"A...what?"
"Gorilla at your buffet. You know... eating all your food? Making you annoyed? That kind of thing?”
― Brandon Sanderson, Steelheart

“Megan's eyes could have drilled holes through butter”
― Brandon Sanderson, Steelheart