33 Best Throne of Glass Quotes

I recently binge read the entire Throne of Glass series by Sarah J Maas and am now a fully fledged member S J Maas fan club. It’s such a readable series and I flew through it.

The series follows the story of Celaena Sardothien, a deadly assassin recruited from a slave camp to become the King’s Champion.

Over the course of over 8 books we see her and her friends work to bring magic back to the realm and fight the evils that threaten to overcome it.

If you’ve read any Sarah J Maas novels you’ll know that they really don’t belong in the young adult category at all with all that steamy content but you’ll find none of those quotes here. 

These are some of my favourite quotes from the Throne of Glass series that inspire, motivate and move.

READ MORE: 11 Books Like Throne of Glass

I’ve separated these quotes into a few different categories, starting with the most important, the power of books and reading.

This is followed by Throne of Glass quotes that remind us we all have our evils but there is hope if we have strength of character and practice kindness & acceptance.

If you haven’t read the series yet then what are you waiting for? Here are all the Throne of Glass books in order – click through to purchase them for yourself!

The Assassin’s Blade | Throne of Glass | Crown of Midnight | Heir of Fire | Queen of Shadows | Empire of Storms | Tower of Dawn | Kingdom of Ash

And check out my Throne of Glass review and Crown of Midnight review here.

NB. This post will contain some spoilers for those who haven’t read the series.

The Power of Books

One reason I was instantly drawn to the series is Celaena’s love of books and reading. Books about bookworms are the best kind.

Throne of Glass often mentions how books are the answer to all problems, how Celaena spends her money on books and how the very best of friends can be found in the pages of a good book.

“And the city would have a library, too. A great, wonderful library. Or a bookshop with a knowledgeable owner who could make sure her thirst for books was always sated.” 

―The Assassin’s Blade

“There was no way in hell she was going to move to the southern continent without all of her books.” 

―The Assassin’s Blade

“Libraries were full of ideas ― perhaps the most dangerous and powerful of all weapons.”

―Throne of Glass

“No. I can survive well enough on my own— if given the proper reading material.”

― Throne of Glass

Absolute goals!

“Her salary as King’s Champion was considerable, and Celaena spent every last copper of it. Shoes, hats, tunics, dresses, jewelry, weapons, baubles for her hair, and books. Books and books and books. So many books that Philippa had to bring up another bookcase for her room.”

―Crown of Midnight

#relatable, amirite?

“…her dearest friends are characters in books.” 

―Heir of Fire 

Life is No Fairytale

One thing I think the Throne of Glass series deals with fairly well is very real and adult traumas that people face. Ones that can very easily be translated to situations in the real world. Things don’t always work out, in fact, they often don’t.

These traumas stay with us long after the event and most will never leave. But if you can find it in yourself to get up and carry on, these moments will shape how you lead the rest of your life – for the better.

“Life isn’t easy, no matter where you are. You’ll make choices you think are right, and then suffer for them.” 

―The Assassin’s Blade

“Sometimes, the wicked will tell us things just to confuse us–to haunt our thoughts long after we’ve faced them.” 

―Throne of Glass

“Every step. Every curve into darkness. Every moment of despair and rage and pain. It had led him to precisely where he needed to be. Where he wanted to be.”

―Tower of Dawn

“You’re afraid. Of yourself more than anyone else in the world.”

―Kingdom of Ash

Quotes to Inspire Hope

The world Sarah J Maas depicts in Throne of Glass is pretty bleak. The fight for good and evil is a prominent theme throughout and at times, it did seem like the fight was hopeless.

Even in the darkest moments, however, there were characters or signs that offered glimmers of hope for what could be. We are reminded of the importance of believing in a little magic and allowing yourself to dream.

“For the first time in years, she was truly happy. The feeling curled around every thought, a tendril of hope that grew with each breath. She was afraid to look at it for too long, as though acknowledging it would cause it to disappear. Perhaps the world would never be perfect, perhaps some things would never be right, but maybe she stood a chance of finding her own sort of peace and freedom.” 

― Crown of Midnight

“It would not take a monster to destroy a monster ― but light, light to drive out darkness.”

― Heir of Fire

“You make me want to live, Rowan. Not survive; not exist. Live.”

― Queen of Shadows

“What if we go on,” he said, “only to more pain and despair? What if we go on, only to find a horrible end waiting for us?”

Aelin looked northward, as if she could see all the way to Terrasen. “Then it is not the end.”

– Queen of Shadows

“The world,” Aelin said, “will be saved and remade by dreamers”

– Empire of Storms

“But just remember that this fear of yours? It means you have something worth fighting for – something you care so greatly for that losing it is the worst thing you can imagine.” 

― Kingdom of Ash

“The choice of how our people’s future shall be shaped is yours,” Manon told each of the witches assembled, all the Blackbeaks who might fly off to war and never return. “But I will tell you this.” Her hands shook, and she fisted them on her thighs. “There is a better world out there. And I have seen it.” 

― Kingdom of Ash

Awe-inspiring Strength of Character

I think it’s fair to say that our main gal Celaena has been through quite the ringer in life what with losing her family at a young age, being adopted by a sadistic man who made her into a lethal assassin, being sent to a slave camp where she was frequently whipped and then much later on … the box. If you know, you know.

In fact, all three of the original trio of Dorian, Chaol and Celaena face many difficult situations throughout the series. They all manage to muddle their way through and come out stronger than ever showing incredible grit and strength of character. Here are the quotes that prove it and might inspire you to strengthen your resolve.

“If you can learn to endure pain, you can survive anything. Some people learn to embrace it- to love it. Some endure it through drowning it in sorrow, or by making themselves forget. Others turn it into anger.”

―The Assassian’s Blade

“You could rattle the stars,” she whispered. “You could do anything, if only you dared. And deep down, you know it, too. That’s what scares you most.”

―Crown of Midnight

“And what’s wrong with headstrong girls?” she pressed. “Other than the fact that they’re not wooden-headed ninnies who can only open their mouths to give orders and gossip?”

―Crown of Midnight

“Each of the scars, the chipped teeth and broken claws, the mutilated tail—­they ­weren’t the markings of a victim. Oh, no. They ­were the trophies of a survivor. Abraxos was a warrior who’d had all the odds stacked against him and survived. Learned from it. Triumphed.” 

―Heir of Fire

“But these days … she didn’t know what she needed. What she wanted. If she felt like admitting it, she actually didn’t have the faintest clue who the hell she was anymore. All she knew was that whatever and whoever climbed out of that abyss of despair and grief would not be the same person who had plummeted in. And maybe that was a good thing.”

― Queen of Shadows

 Magic makes people dangerous. 

―Queen of Shadows

“I once lived in fear of other people. I let other people walk all over me just because I was too afraid of the consequences for refusing. I did not know how to refuse.”

―Tower of Dawn

“Rowan considered for a moment, and then said, “I have known many kings in my life, Dorian Havilliard. And it was a rare man indeed who asked for help when he needed it, who would put aside pride.” 

―Empire of Storms

 “The fear of loss … it can destroy you as much as the loss itself.” 

―Empire of Storms

“Her mother placed a phantom hand over Aelin’s heart.

It is the strength of this that matters. No matter where you are, no matter how far, this will lead you home.” 

―Kingdom of Ash

“She made herself look. To face down that place of pain and despair. It would always leave a mark, a stain on her, but she would not let it define her. 

Hers was not a story of darkness. 

This would not be the story. She would fold it into herself, this place, this fear, but it would not be the whole story. It would not be her story.” 

―Kingdom of Ash

“Who do you wish to be? he asked the barely woven tapestry within himself. Let the threads and knots take form, crafting the picture within his mind. Starting small.” 

―Kingdom of Ash

Quotes about Acceptance

Finally, here are some Throne of Glass quotes about acceptance. There are different species, races and clans in Throne of Glass, which all clash and come together in different ways.

No character in the series is perfect, most are deeply flawed. However, these quotes reminded me of the importance of accepting people as they come and spreading a little kindness and understanding.

“You cannot pick and choose what parts of her to love.”

― Heir of Fire

“As for Celaena,“ he said again, “you do not have the right to wish she were not what she is. The only thing you have a right to do is decide whether you are her enemy or her friend.”

―Heir of Fire

 “Everybody is something. Even the most common witch has her coven.” 

―Queen of Shadows

 “You’re remarkably judgmental.”

“What’s the point in having a mind if you don’t use it to make judgments?”

“What’s the point in having a heart if you don’t use it to spare others from the harsh judgments of your mind? 

―Throne of Glass

So there you have the top Throne of Glass quotes! Which is your favourite book in the series? Do you prefer the Throne of Glass series or A Court of Thorns and Roses series? Let me know in the comments below!

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Laura

Editor of What’s Hot?

Laura is an award-winning travel and book blogger based in the UK. She studied French literature at Oxford University and is now an IP lawyer at a top law firm in London. She was named UK Book Blogger of the Year in 2019 and loves to combine her passion for books and travel with literary travel.