50 Best The Wheel of Time Quotes and Dialogues

The 14 titles comprising The Wheel of Time franchise were published between 1990 and 2013. Although they never became The Lord of the Rings, this fantasy classic was a bestselling hit in its own right and in 2021, the franchise received a major adaptation in the form of Amazon’s streaming series. The Wheel of Time has a large fandom and in this article, we are going to dedicate this article to that large fandom, as we list the best quotes from The Wheel of Time franchise.

The list is going to include a total of 50 quotes from all the books and series, attributed to various characters that have said them throughout the franchise. The quotes are taken from various contexts and situations, and we have decided to group them based on the message they’re sending.

Best The Wheel of Quotes About Time

“The Wheel of Time turns, and Ages come and pass, leaving memories that become legend. Legend fades to myth, and even myth is long forgotten when the Age that gave it birth comes again.”

This is practically the best possible introduction you could ask for in terms of the symbolic interpretation of this whole series. Time is a truly powerful source and Robert Jordan never hesitated to emphasize it.

“We can’t go back, Mat. The Wheel has turned, for better or worse. And it will keep turning, as lights die and forests dim, storms call and skies break. Turn it will. The Wheel is not hope, and the Wheel does not care, the Wheel simply is. But so long as it turns, folk may hope, folk may care. For with light that fades, another will eventually grow, and each storm that rages must eventually die. As long as the Wheel turns. As long is it turns….”

A lot of these time-related quotes are, in their essence at least, completely identical. They carry the same deep meaning and refer to the inevitability of the passing of time. Here, the phrase that the Wheel of Time had turned meant that time was simply doing its job and that one should not lose hope in spite of everything because as long as there is time, there is a chance to make things better.

“Once he had a grove of oaks chopped down because they were looking at him. And then insisted that they would be given decent funerals; he gave the orations. Do you have any idea how longs it takes to dig graves for twenty-three oak trees?”

Now, for the sake of diversity, we decided to add more direct quotes related to time, such as this one, which refers to a very interesting scene from the whole series. Digging a grave is a process however you look at it, and let alone for a total of twenty-three oak trees. It certainly had to have lasted long.

“Yet one shall be born to face the Shadow, born once more as he was born before and shall be born again, time without end. The Dragon shall be Reborn, and there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth at his rebirth. In sackcloth and ashes shall he clothe the people, and he shall break the world again by his coming, tearing apart all ties that bind. Like the unfettered dawn shall he blind us, and burn us, yet shall the Dragon Reborn confront the Shadow at the Last Battle, and his blood shall give us the Light.”

We actually listed this one here because it speaks of the cycle of (re)birth and emphasized the importance of the Dragon for the whole series. It might not be a direct reference to time itself, but such cycles are always related to time.

“As the Wheel of Time turns, places wear many names. Men wear many names, many faces. Different faces, but always the same man. Yet no one knows the Great Pattern the Wheel weaves, or even the Pattern of an Age. We can only watch, and study, and hope.”

And we’re back to the usual meaning of these quotes. The Wheel of Time turns, things pass, things change, but there is also something unchangeable in that process, an eternal truth that will disappear along with Time itself.

Gaul: “Do you know what you are doing, Perrin?”
Perrin Aybara: “No. But there’s no reason for Faile to know that.”
Gaul: “It is fun to be so young, is it not, Perrin?”

Age is also a concept related to time, isn’t it? We picked this one because it has a humorous context within it, but also because it refers to youth as an age category. When we’re young, we can do a lot of things that we cannot when we’re older and that is also one important concept of time.

“The wind rose high and free, to soar in an open sky with no clouds. It passed over a broken landscape scattered with corpses not yet buried. A landscape covered, at the same time, with celebrations. It tickled the branches of trees that had finally begun to put forth buds. The wind blew southward, through knotted forests, over shimmering plains and toward lands unexplored. This wind, it was not the ending. There are no endings, and never will be endings, to the turning of the Wheel of Time. But it was an ending.”

And while this one actually starts off as a description, it is another reference to Time itself, or, to be more precise, the Wheel of Time. Time itself shall not end, as the author concludes, but endings are an important and usual part of life.

“Anyone who claimed that old age had brought them patience was either lying or senile.”

And another one related to age. We found this one even funnier, since old people usually do say that ageing has brought them peace, but not everyone would agree it seems, and this quote shows how one can be funny and angry at the same time. Perhaps the author of this quote was a senile man, or a liar, eh?

“Its time to role the dice.”

Okay, this is a very literal one and the only reference that seems obvious is the mention of the word “time” in it. But, gambling is a very important aspect of his franchise and we picked this one because it referenced one of the most important concepts in the whole franchise.

At the end of time,
when the many become one,
the last storm shall gather
its angry winds
to destroy a land already dying.
And at its center, the blind man shall stand
upon his own grave.
There he shall see again,
and weep for what has been wrought.

The ending. As simple as that. A poem is always more befitting than a narrative paragraph in such occasions.

Best The Wheel of Time Quotes About Love

“How people see you first is what they hold hardest in their minds. It is the way of the world. You can step down from a throne], and even if you behave like a farmer in a pigsty, some part in each of them will remember that you did descend from a throne. But if they see only a young man first, a country man, they will resent him stepping up to his throne later, whatever his right, whatever his power.”

We’re not sure that this one is solely an amorous reference, but it certainly can be one. Sure, it speaks of impressions and how people actually don’t change while changing, from the point of view of another person, but it can also mean that once you love someone as he is, you’ll always continue loving that initial “mask” you’ve seen.

Aviendha: “Elayne is a wetlander, your own kind. Exactly the woman for you. Is she not beautiful? Her back is straight, her limbs supple and strong, her lips like plump loveapples. Her hair is spun gold, her eyes blue sapphires. Her skin is smoother than the finest silk, her bosom fine and well-rounded. Her hips are -”
Rand al’Thor: “I know she is pretty. What are you doing?”
Aviendha: “I am describing her. Have you seen her in her bath? There is no need for me to describe her if you have seen -”
Rand al’Thor: “I have not seen!”
Aviendha: “Her hips -”
Rand al’Thor: “Stop that!”

Ah, a little high fantasy humor that is actually a somewhat humorous, but nonetheless a bit simplified expression of one’s affection. This dialogue is actually pure gold and we’re happy to have had the pleasure of including it here on this list.

“And yet many of us do it without families,” Nynaeve said. “Without love, without passion beyond our own particular interests. So even while we try to guide the world, we separate ourselves from it. We risk arrogance, Egwene. We always assume we know best, but risk making ourselves unable to fathom the people we claim to serve.”

Although Nynaeve speaks of other concepts besides love, all of them actually amount to the same thing here, and that is – love. Family, passion, other people – all of that is connected through love and that is why Nynaeve tried to emphasize here, melancholically remarking how people often miss out on that.

“A woman will kill you for half the reason of a man, but cry twice as hard afterward.”

Okay, not a direct one, we’re aware of that, but it goes to show how women are passionate. Sure, this might not be related to someone they love directly, it can be that they’ve been hurt regardless of any love involved, but they often react like this because their emotions have been hurt.

“When a young woman’s cheeks redden for no apparent reason, there is usually a man involved.”

This one is a simple one and quite easy to interpret, is it not? We don’t really have much to add here.

“Your Royal Bloody Pain in My Back,
We’re bloody waiting here to talk to you, and we’re getting angry perturbed. (That means angry.) Thom says that you’re a queen now, but I figure that changes nothing, sense you acted like a queen all the time anyway. Don’t forget that I carried halled your pretty little backside out of a hole in Tear, but you acted like a queen then, so I guess I don’t know why I’m surprised now that you act like one when you really are a queen.
So I’m thinking I should treat you like a bloody Queen and send you a bloody letter and all, speaking with high talk and getting your attention. I even used my ring as a signet, like it was paper proper. So here my formal salutation. So BLOODY STOP TURNING ME AWAY so we can talk. I need your bellfounders. It’s bloody important.

–Mat

p.s. Salutation means greeting.
p.p.s. Don’t mind the scratched out words and bad spellings. I was going to rewrite this letter, but Thom is laffing so hard at me that I want to be done.
p.p.s. Don’t mind me calling your backside pretty. I hardly ever spent any time looking at it, as I’ve an awareness that you’d pull my eyes out if you saw me. Besides, I’m married now, so that all doesn’t matter.”

A letter written by Mat. Sure, it’s funnier than anything else, but the emotions he has for his dear ”Pain in His Back”, which are quite obvious despite everything, were a good excuse for us to include it on this list. And that is why we did. It’s really one of the more hilarious passages from the books.

“Dance well with a woman, and she’s halfway yours.”

This has been stressed out more than enough in a series of Hollywood rom-coms, but it seems that a high fantasy setting is not different in any way. They say that a man who can dance is very attractive. This might come in handy someday.

“A man must know when to retreat from a woman, but a wise man knows that sometimes he must stand and face her.”

This is more a piece of advice and wisdom than anything else, but really, it can also be related to a woman one loves. A woman’s wrath is a dangerous thing, but sometimes, one must simply face both the woman and the wrath, as that is the only way to calm both of them down.

“I will hate the man you choose because he is not me, and love him if he makes you smile. No woman deserves the sure knowledge of widow’s black as her brideprice, you least of all.”

This is a true show of manly affection. This guy loved his woman so much that he was willing to let her go, which is how one should love someone, because love shouldn’t be selfish, but you have to know how to balance that out. Maybe this piece of wisdom will help.

“I would burn the world and use my soul for tinder to hear her laugh again.”

And another melancholic ending, just like the poem from the previous section. This one is about a love lost, a very Shakespearean quote with much pathos, but also a great demonstration of how important love can be to a person.

Best The Wheel of Time Quotes About Life

“Killing is as easy as dying, any fool could do either.”

A very interesting and humorous piece of wisdom, to be frank. It goes to show that a cynical view on life is actually very foolish and the easy way out. Enduring is difficult. Dying is easy. In fact, it is so easy that anyone can do it, while enduring is reserved for those that are special.

“A ship is alive, and he is like a man, with a true man’s heart. Treat him well and care for him properly, and he will fight for you against the worst sea. He will fight to keep you alive even after the sea has long since given him his own deathstroke. Neglect him, though, ignore the small warnings he gives of danger, and he will drown you in a flat sea beneath a cloudless sky.”

Not sure how much Jordan wanted to stress out the gender-related aspects of his books, but in a myriad of female empowering quotes, we simply had to put one like this, a quote that actually gives deeper meaning to the fact that one is a man. And it’s also a great metaphor in its own right.

“How was he to cause war, as the prophecies say he must? How was he to break the nations and bind them to him? How could he ‘slay his people with the sword of peace’ or ‘bind the nine moons to serve him’ if he was locked away? Do the prophecies say that he will be ‘unfettered’? Do they not speak of the ‘chaos of his passing’? How can anything pass at all if he is kept in chains?”

This is an in-universe reference that has more meaning if you(‘ve) actually read the books. But, it also challenges the concept of prophecies and determinism, questioning the logical standpoint of the prophecy itself.

“Death comes for us all. We can only chose how to face it when it comes.”

This one could’ve been in the first section as well, but we decided to put it here as it is more an inevitable fact of life than a reference to time. Death should be greeted and not feared, we suppose, as it is something that has to happen, so it’s better do to it when you’re at peace with your Reaper than when you’re not, we suppose. We don’t really know, we haven’t died yet. Not even once.

“Men always believe they are in control of everything around them. When they find out they are not, they think they have failed, instead of learning a simple truth women already know.”

Another piece of wisdom from a female perspective, which shows how much Jordan cared for his female characters, empowering them along the way. This is often said in various works, that the female mind and viewpoint are much more insightful than those of men.

“Some men […] choose to seek greatness, while others are forced to it. It is always better to choose than to be forced. A man who is forced is never completely his own master. He must dance on the strings of those who forced him.”

This one’s actually great quote about freedom and determinism. If you’re forced into something, you always have to follow those that have forced you. If you’re given a choice, then everything you do is yours, both the good and the bad. This is what makes freedom so beautiful.

“Browns seek knowledge, Blues meddle in causes, and Whites consider the questions of truth with implacable logic. We all do some of it all, of course. But to be Green means to stand ready. In the Trolloc Wars, we were often called the Battle Ajah. All Aes Sedai helped where and when they could, but the Green Ajah alone was always with the armies, in almost every battle. We were the counter to the dreadlords. The Battle Ajah. And now we stand ready, for the Trollocs to come south again, for Tarmon Gai’don. the Last Battle. We will be there. That is what it means to be Green.”

This is a completely in-universe reference that we cannot really explain unless we dig deep into the franchise’s lore, and this is simply not the place for that. It is a beautiful quote that explains the life of Jordan’s world and we’re certain you’ll understand it once you’ve read the books.

“What did you spend so much time talking about with Ila? If you weren’t dancing with that long-legged fellow, you were talking to her like it was some kind of secret.”
“Ila was giving me advice on being a woman,” Egwene replied absently. He began laughing, and she gave him a hooded, dangerous look that he failed to see.
“Advice! Nobody tells us how to be men. We just are.”
“That,” Egwene said, “is probably why you make such a bad job of it.”

A funny one. And a true one. And also one that empowers women. It goes to show that men always have an overly stubborn and simplified view on life, but also themselves, while women are more sensible and intelligent in their approach.

“Bashere motioned, and one of the younger Saldaeans loped ahead in that rolling stride of a man more used to a saddle. “A man must know when to retreat from a woman,” Bashere said to the air, “but a wise man knows that sometimes he must stand and face her.”
“Young men,” Bael said indulgently. “A young man chases shadows and runs from moonlight, and in the end he stabs himself in the foot with his own spear.” Some of the other Aiel chuckled, Maidens and Knife Hands alike. The older ones did.
Irritated, Rand looked over his shoulder again. “Neither of you would look well in a dress.” Surprisingly, the Maidens and Knife Hands laughed again, more loudly. Maybe he was getting a grip on Aiel humor.”

Another in-universe quote which you’ll completely understand once you read the books and get to know the whole lore. But, do trust us – it’s hilarious once you fully comprehend it.

“Well perhaps you humans do have short lives but you do so much with them. Always jumping around, always so hasty and you have the whole world to do it in.”

And this is absolutely true. That is, we suppose, what makes humans so special – they’re completely unique. They endure hardships, and yet they find a way to evolve in spite of that. Humans do a lot with their lives, even in a world devoid of modern technology, and that is what this quote brilliantly emphasizes.

Best Inspirational The Wheel of Time Quotes

“You’ll use it [Perrin’s axe], boy, and as long as you hate using it, you would use it more wisely than most men would. Wait. If ever you don’t hate it any longer, then will be the time to throw it as far as you can and run the other way.”

We don’t know if this is God of War or The Wheel of Time, but it certainly made us look for an ax and train with it. This quote is all about enduring and surpassing oneself to become better and stronger.

“Do you know how to unite the people behind you, Child Carridin? The quickest way? Loose a lion – a rabid lion – in the streets. And when panic grips the people, once it has turned their bowels to water, calmly tell them you will deal with it. Then you kill it, and order them to hang the carcass up where everyone can see. Before they have time to think, you give another order, and it will be obeyed. And if you continue to give orders, they will continue to obey, for you will be the one who saved them, and who better to lead?”

Okay, it’s not as noble as you’d expect, really, no, but it’s great. It’s a bit Machiavellian – okay, a lot – but it does the trick and while it can be abused, the whole concept can also be used to help people.

“Ravens and crows. Rats. Mists and clouds. Insects and corruption. Strange events and odd occurences. The ordinary twisted and strange. Wonders. The dead are beginning to walk and some see them. Others do not, but more and more, we all fear the night. These have been our days. They rain upon us beneath a dead sky, crushing us with their fury, until as one, we beg, ‘Let it begin.'”

We don’t know about you, but this one made us want to face it, whatever it is. It’s a bit grim, but it does the job well to inspire and to motivate, because if you can endure all these pests, you can certainly face anything that comes before you.

“We are going to tickle some Aes Sedai under the chin, rescue a mule, and put a snip-nosed girl on the Lion Throne. Oh, yes. That’s Aviendha. Don’t look at her cross-wise or she’ll try to cut your throat and probably slit her own by mistake.”

This one does motivate you, but only if you get the reference. So, this one goes on the list of those quotes you’ll understand fully once you’ve read all the books.

“I will wager two silver marks to two from each of you that I can beat both of you at once, just the way I said. You can’t have fairer odds than that. There are two of you, and one of me, so two to one are fair odds.”

We’ve said that gambling is a relevant factor in this series and though this one is more badass than vice-inducing in tone, it’s still a great reference. Also, it goes to show that a one-vs-two fight is fair if you have enough confidence in your abilities.

“A woman’s flaming rights are whatever she flaming says they are. That’s what women in Shienar say, anyway.”

Yeah, flaming is an euphemism, in case you wondered. The women of Shienar are right, you know? This is a great quote for all the female fans of the series, but also for everyone else, as it puts things in the right perspective.

“I’m dry, like an overused well. I need to finish my work here and get to Shayol Ghul. Otherwise, there won’t be anything left of me for the Dark One to kill.”

Well, yours truly has never been a well, dry or anything else, but once you comprehend this determination, you really do discover some new energy that will help you face whatever is coming at you.

“A man who trusts everyone is a fool, and a man who trusts no one is a fool. We are all fools, if we live long enough.”

This one is self-explanatory really. And so very, very true.

“In war, you say a prayer for your dead and ride on, because there is always another fight over the next horizon.”

The wisdom of war is an elusive creature but sometimes, you actually manage to find some sense in all of the killing, no matter how twisted. The good thing is that the nobility of such quotes can really help you during and after the struggles.

“I’ll not have you bleeding to death on me. That would be just like you, to die and leave me the work of burying you. You have no consideration.”

Joking with death always kills us (pun intended), mostly because it’s either very true (despite the grim context), or very funny. We’re satisfied with both if you ask us.

The Wheel of Time Old Tongue Quotes

“Dovie’andi se tovya sagain.”

Translated as “It’s time to toss the dice.”, this is said by Mat Cauthon from time to time, generally before battles.

“Carai an Caldazar! Carai an Ellisande! Al Ellisande!”

Translated as “For the honor of the Red Eagle! For the Honor of the Rose of the Sun! The Rose of the Sun!”, this is an ancient warcry of Manetheren and its last king, whose queen, Eldrene, who was called Rose of the Sun.

“Mia ayende, Aes Sedai! Caballein misain ye! Inde muagdhe Aes Sedai misain ye! Mia ayende!”

Translated as “Release me, Aes Sedai! I am a free man, Aes Sedai! I am no Aes Sedai meat! Release me!”, and houted by Mat while he is being Healed of his connection to the dagger from Shadar Logoth by Aes Sedai.

“Muad’drin tia dar allende caba’drin rhiadem! Los Valdar Cuebiyari! Los! Carai an Caldazar! Al Caldazar!”

Translated as “Footmen prepare to pass cavalry forward! Forward the Heart Guard! Forward! For the Honor of the Red Eagle! The Red Eagle!”, and also spoken by Mat while he was being freed from the Shadar Logoth dagger.

“Tia mi aven Moridin isande vadin.”

Translated as “The grave is no bar to my call”, is actually inscription on the Horn of Valere.

“Sa souvraya niende misain ye.”

Translated as “I am lost in my own mind.”, and said by Mat, again, as muses this to himself after witnessing the destruction at Imre Stand, in the Aiel Waste.

“Deyeniye, dyu ninte concion ca’lyet ye.”

Translated as “Majesty, by your summons do I come”, and said by Mat accidentally to Queen Tylin when she first summons him.

“Nosane iro gavane domorakoshi, Diynen’d’ma’purvene?”

Translated as “Speak we what language, Sounder of the Horn?”, and said by Birgitte to Mat when they first speak in A Crown of Swords.

“Shen an Calhar”

Meaning The Band of the Red Hand. Simple as that.

“Mia dovienya nesodhin soende.”

Translated as “Luck carry me through”, although the literal translation is “My luck through (this) carry.”