The HBO series Game of Thrones wrapped up in 2019, and then the world ended.
Coincidence? Yeah probably.
I think that with the new year we could all use some wisdom from Westeros, so whether you've watched the show or not, here's some of the best quotes from Game of Thrones.
10: "A reader lives a thousand lives before he dies. The man who doesn't read lives only one." -Jojen Reed
The Game of Thrones franchise has always encouraged reading, from Tyrion's quote on books to Sam Tarley repeatedly saving people because he took time to do research. Jojen's quote applies to all media, including video games, since gamers don't need to get a life, they have a 1UP.
9: "The man who fears losing has already lost." -Syrio Forel
It's hard to find just one quote from the former First Sword of Braavos to add to the list. The swordsman taught Arya how to survive in the harsh world by teaching her how to control her fears and become the master assassin we all grew to love. She could've died a dozen times if she gave into her fears, but instead she remembered her teacher's wisdom and survived.
8: "It's dangerous to be free, but most come to like the taste of it." -Ygritte
Being one of the wildlings, Ygritte didn't see the need for kings or to be ruled over, she focused more on living life the way she wanted to. She taught Jon Snow that he could choose his own destiny, and that it didn't have to be bound to what family he was born into or who his parents were. He could just be him.
7: "All my life men like you have sneered at me. And all my life I've been knocking men like you in the dust." -Brienne of Tarth
Brianne bucks every stereotype she can find. She's a female warrior who takes out every man who challenges her, and all while wearing practical armor. She is one of the few knights that lives up to their vows, making her one of the few straightforward heroes in the story.
6: "Any fool with a bit of luck can find himself born into power. But earning it for yourself, that takes work." -Lord Varys
In a world where it matters who your family is and what your lineage is, few have come so far as the Master of Whispers Varys. He plays the power games better than most, and has no problem letting the people around him know that he's not there because of who his daddy was but because he earned it.
5: "Everyone dies. Don't worry about death, instead worry about life and taking control of it." -Petyr Baelish
Petyr is another character who came from relatively nothing. He could've just been a relatively rich lord in the Fingers, but he made his way to Master of Coin on his own and become a successful business owner in the capital. He knew he had one life to live and he made the best with the hand dealt to him.
4: "The greatest fools are often times more clever than the men who laugh at them." -Lord Tywin Lannister
The head of House Lannister didn't become arguably the most powerful leader in Westeros by not listening to good advice, no matter where it came from. He knows that fools speak the truth more openly than anyone else and took it to heart, which gave him the insight to know when to act to position his family in the kingdom. Remember that the court jester was the only one who could say whatever they wanted to the king as long as it was true, which often made them the most reliable source of information in the land.
3: "The next time you raise a hand to me will be the last time you have hands." -Daenerys Targaryen
Being polite, stating your boundaries, and being respectful are all wonderful traits, but sometimes you have to let someone know who you're dealing with. Daenerys learned to speak up for herself, and that she didn't need to be treated as anything less than the queen she was destined to be. So many of her quotes were good but this one is perfect on its own without much context.
2: "A bruise is a lesson. And each lesson makes us better." -Arya Stark
Quoting Syrio Forel, Arya talks about how she learned how to learn. By this philosophy most of last year was one long class, one I hope we can all take to heart. We have taken a lot of hard hits, but those hits have a purpose.
1: "Never forget what you are. The rest of the world will not. Wear it like an armor and it can never be used to hurt you." -Tyrion Lannister
Knowing your limitations, especially the ones others may put on you and how to own them is the key to happiness. Be who you are, no matter who it is, and live your best life. Tyrion was always discounted because of how he looked, but he never let those limitations hold him back.
Remember whether you're trying to live through the post 2020 world or you're playing the game of thrones, you've got some inspiration to keep you going if you need it.
-JOE
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