Quotes

I just finished reading Stone Tables by Orson Scott Card, and there were a few quotes from the book that I really liked. So, I thought I would share them here.

The Lord God treats no human being as a slave. We are all his children. He would see all his creation brought to ruin before he would take free will away from even the most rebellious of men. Men must bear the consequences of their choices, and they can choose only what is within their power. But choose they may, now and always. This world was created for humankind to dwell in it; if humans lose the freedom of choice that separates them from the animals, then this world would have no purpose.

God conversing with Moses:

"In every soul is goodness that might be, and evil that might, and even though I know how much of each will come to be, the child must have his day to choose and show himself and all around him which he loves more: his appetites? his power? his safety? or the leap out of the self into service in the kingdom of God?"

"Yet it is only there that the soul finds its greatness."

"But they must choose it because they love the works of God, not because they seek their own greatness. So I hide the greatness from them, so their choices can be made for love alone."

"May I not tell them, then?"

"You must tell them. But only the great-hearted will believe and act on what you tell. It is the downfall of evil, that it never sees far enough ahead. The enemies of God steal what pieces of power they can steal, not realizing that in the stealing, they destroy what they try to possess. When at last there is nothing left, they will wail to heaven, being in torment at their nothingness, envying the righteous who possess all things; but the law is irrevocable, that nothing can be owned forever unless it gives itself freely, and no one can rule forever except him who serves utterly."