“Steel is power. Money is power. But of all the things in all the worlds, words are power.”

― Pierce Brown, Red Rising

Being an author who writes a series where magic is read aloud from rare books, I’m often going on about the importance of spreading knowledge through the written and spoken word. But often it’s better to keep your mouth shut and use those organs on either side of your head.

Slow down for a minute. Listen to the world around you. That’s why French artist Henri Miller placed his sculpture of a giant with its ear tilted to the sky in a busy French square–to remind passersby of just that. It’s a lesson we all could use.

The next time you’re in a meeting, wait to speak until you’ve heard what others have to say. Sitting in a boring presentation? Well, you’re stuck there. Try to actually listen and you may learn something. Favorite song playing on the radio? Turn it up and really think about the words. What is the artist trying to express? 

As Epictetus so wisely said 2,000 years ago: We have two ears and one mouth so that we can listen twice as much as we speak. So listen up!

Note to readers: Each week, I share a fantasy quote and indulge my inner philosopher with a brief essay based on said quote. Share your favorite quote with me and I might feature it in a future newsletter! Email: dtkane@dtkane.com.

“Mother,” I  thought back to it, as clearly as I could, “I would like one of your eggs.”

“What,” she asked, “do you offer it?”

“I offer it long life,” I answered. “And fresh, red meat without struggle, and I offer it my friendship.”

“And what will you ask of it?”

“I will ask for aid in my endeavors, such as are in its power. I will ask for its wisdom, and I will ask for its friendship.”

― Steven Brust, Jhereg

Buying a dog is like buying a tragedy, or so some say. And there’s certainly some truth there. From the moment you bring that animal into your life, you know two things: (1) you’ll become attached to it; and (2) it will almost certainly die long before you do.

But I also think the transient nature of our pets is what makes them so special. We know they won’t be around forever, and cherish them all the more because of it. What’s more, there’s a rare beauty in the bond created by choosing such a relationship. When you bring that animal home, you’re saying to it, “You don’t have to worry for the rest of your life. I’ll take care of you.” And for that, they give us their unconditional loyalty. That’s powerful.

Tennyson’s famous, age-old question is also implicated here: Is it better to have loved and lost than to have never loved at all? The millions of dog owners throughout the world make the answer clear. And, really, it isn’t hard to see why. “The more I learn about people, the more I like my dog,” said Mark Twain. I don’t necessarily share Twain’s cynicism. But then again, I can think of many more animals I’d rather spend time with than I can people. So…

Note to readers: Each week, I share a fantasy quote and indulge my inner philosopher with a brief essay based on said quote. Share your favorite quote with me and I might feature it in a future newsletter! Email: dtkane@dtkane.com.

“Nothing is all good or all bad,” she says. “Life is so much messier than that.”

― V.E. Schwab, The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue

This quote brought to mind a Chinese proverb that I’ve heard from several different sources. It’s stuck with me, so I thought I’d share it with all of you this week. I’ve shortened it a bit, but essentially is goes like this:

A farmer had a prized stallion and one day it ran away. “Oh, how terrible!” the townspeople told him. “Maybe,” the farmer replied.

The next day, the stallion wandered back to the farm. “How fortunate you are!” the townspeople cried. “Maybe,” the farmer replied.

A few days later, the farmer’s son was riding the stallion when he fell off it and broke his leg. “What bad luck!” the townspeople lamented. “Maybe,” the farmer replied.

Two weeks later, the emperor’s army passed through the town, drafting young men to be soldiers. They left the farmer’s son behind because his leg hadn’t healed yet.

We can never foresee all the consequences of a single event, so it’s best to take everything–both the good and the bad–in stride. Avoid the extremes–nothing is ever the most terrible or greatest thing that could have happened. Keep your perspective, look for the good in everything, but don’t permit windfalls to blind you to reality.

Will this be the best advice to read today? Maybe.

Note to readers: Each week, I share a fantasy quote and indulge my inner philosopher with a brief essay based on said quote. Share your favorite quote with me and I might feature it in a future newsletter! Email: dtkane@dtkane.com.

“You could even say that Readers are the one force in our world more powerful than me. Because as long as there are Readers who believe in Good’s power over Evil, Good will still win, even if I obliterate every kingdom in the Woods. Because there will always be Readers, no matter what I do. Readers who put their faith in the Old stories, passing them down, forever and ever, keeping Good alive, beyond my control.”

-Soman Chainani, The Last Ever After (The School for Good and Evil #3)

Here, Chainani strikes at the heart of the tragedy in the Spoken Books Uprising. In the land of Oration, the Readers have (perhaps ironically, given their name) withheld literacy from a vast swath of the population. To strive for a better way of life, one must first appreciate the experiences of their fellow human beings. Yet, without the written word, the spread of ideas is nearly impossible, which favors those who would oppress others. 

As I’ve said so many times before, that is the beauty and power of reading. It entertains, it teaches, and it can even liberate. Just as Baz has used his forbidden power of Reading in The Spoken Books Uprising to lead a rebellion against the Triumvirate’s plutocracy, so too should we use that power to remain educated and demand better from the world around us.

It’s said that knowledge is power, but if that is true, then reading is the energy source. Keep yourself fueled. 

This week’s quote was submitted by Jan. Thanks, Jan!

Note to readers: Each week, I share a fantasy quote and indulge my inner philosopher with a brief essay based on said quote. Share your favorite quote with me and I might feature it in a future newsletter! Email: dtkane@dtkane.com.