Christopher Paolini is an American writer of fantasy fiction, best known as being the author of the Inheritance cycle.

Eldest (2005)

• The songs of the dead are the lamentations of the living.
  • Opening line

• When you can have anything you want by uttering a few words, the goal matters not, only the journey to it.
  • Rhunon

• No-one can function properly without occasional peace and quiet.
  • King Orrin

• So tell me, is it true that men have ten toes, as is said?
  • Shrrgnien

• Live in the present, remember the past, and fear not the future, for it doesn't exist and never shall. There is only now.
  • Saphira

• Shall we dance, friend of my heart?
  • Eragon

• Applied properly, it [logic] can overcome any lack of wisdom, which one only gains through age and experience.
  • Oromis

• Those whom we love are often the most alien to us.
  • Oromis

• Characters are born from necessity.

• My father's work will not go unfinished, even if it takes me to the grave. That is what I want you, as a rider, to understand. All of Ajihad's plans, all his strategies and goals, they are mine now. I will not fail him by being weak. The empire will be brought down, Galbatorix will with dethroned, and the rightful government will be raised.
  • Nasuada

• "It seems a cold world without somthing . . . more."

"On the contrary," said Oromis, "it is a better world . A place where we are responsible for our own actions, where we can be kind to one another because we want to and because it is the right thing to do instead of being frightened into behaving by the threat of divine punishment. I won't tell you what to believe, Eragon. It is far better to be taught to think critically and then be allowed to make your own decisions than to have somone else's notions thrust upon you. You asked after our religion, and I have answered you true. Make of it what you will"

• Eragon and Oromis discussing the elves' religion.

Unsourced

• It never struck me as interesting that I didn't go to school — we had our own little world. I always thought of kids who were going to regular school as if they're the others, the separate ones.
  • In an interview with The Guardian