“It's been said that the sea is a harsh mistress, but I've found her no harsher than any of the other mistresses I've known. If you treat her with love and respect, she's less likely to come up on you in anger, but you can never rely on her moods totally, and you can never ever take what she gives you for granted. But if you love her, you'll love her whatever she does to you and she'll take you in at the end no matter what. That makes her a cut above most of those I've known.”
—Handon Bracestorm, once of Mercania, now of the Mergeld Sea.

“Give me a horse under me, a blade at my side, and good men of true unyielding courage at my back and I will rule the world or as much of it as I can cover in a lifetime. Those who stay in one place don't own it anymore than a scrubby bush owns the sand it clings too.”
—Arakis Tanziana, born of the Steppes, of the Tribe of Mandagral.

“No honour—except that of being an honest man. No glory—except that found in winning battles. No title—except that of being a Freeman. And I'll fight anyone who tries to tell me that I need any more of those things than I already have.”
—Tomas of Broadacre, Veteran.