# William Nicholson

William Benedict Nicholson FRSL (born 12 January 1948) is a British screenwriter, playwright, and novelist who has been nominated twice for an Oscar.

## Quotes
### Shadowlands (1993)

    These are just a few samples, for more quotes from this film (written by William Nicholson) see Shadowlands
* We read to know that we are not alone.
* Experience is a brutal teacher, but you learn fast.
* Self-sufficiency is the enemy of salvation. If you are self-sufficient, you have no need of God. If you have no need of God, you do not seek Him. If you do not seek Him, you will not find Him.

### Gladiator (2000 film)

    These are just a few samples, for more quotes from this film see Gladiator.
* Brothers, what we do in life, echoes in eternity.
* I will win the crowd. I will give them something they have never seen before.

### The "Wind on Fire" Trilogy (2000-2003)
#### The Wind Singer (Book 1)

* She hasnt gone so far now, she had broken a lot of rules and said such rude things, that she knew she would suffer the most horrible punishment; and since what was done could not be undone, she was free to be as bad as she wanted to be.
** p. 35
* "I wish there were no more exams ever," said Kestrel. "I wish nothing bad happens to Kess," said Bowman. "I wish my darling children to be safe and happy for ever," said their mother. She always wished like that when she was worried. "I wish the wind singer would sing again," said their father.
** p. 42
* The song of the wind singer will set you free.
** p. 77
* "That's where we have to go," said Kestrel, looking at the mountain. "Into the fire."
** p. 265

#### Slaves of the Mastery (Book 2)

* She slapped Kestrel's face. Without thinking twice, Kestrel slapped her back, as hard as she could. The young woman burst into tears. The servant saw this, aghast. "Baby!" she exclaimed. "Oh, my poor baby!" "You've been kind to me," said Kestrel, "and you're very beautiful, but if you hit me again I'll kill you."
** p. 85
* "Today begins my walk with you." They spoke together, their voices sounding softly in the cold air. "Where you go, I go. Where you stay, I stay. When you sleep, I will sleep. When you rise, I will rise. I will pass my days within the sound of your voice, and my nights within the reach of your hand. And none shall come between us."
** p. 581

#### Firesong (Book 3)

* If everything you do is in order to do something else, when do you ever get to the end of it all?
** p. 170
* 'I don't want to do any of those things you said. I want – I want – to make things right.' 'Then so you shall.' 'Is it so easy?' 'Not easy. Not easy at all. Think how much is wanting to make things wrong. All the fear in the world, and the violence that comes from the fear, and the hatred that comes from the violence, and the loneliness that comes from the hatred. All the unhappiness, all the cruelty, it gathers like clouds in the air, and grows dark and cold and heavy, and falls like grey snow in thick layers over the land. Then the world is all muffled and numb, and no one can hear each other or feel each other. Think how sad and lonely that must be.
** p. 274

### Motherland (2012 novel)

* The English seem to think drinking wine is like committing adultery, something you do rarely and abroad.
** p. 18

## External links

* William Nicholson's official website