Gaze Quote by Rick Riordan
““half-blood of the eldest gods . . . shall reach sixteen against all odds . . .” I hesitated, staring at the next lines. A cold feeling started in my fingers as if the paper was freezing. “And see the world in endless sleep, The hero’s soul, cursed blade shall reap.” Suddenly Riptide seemed heavier in my pocket. A cursed blade? Chiron once told me Riptide had brought many people sorrow. Was it possible my own sword could get me killed? And how could the world to fall into endless sleep, unless that meant death? “Percy,” Chiron urged. “Read the rest.” My mouth felt like it was full of sand, but I spoke the last two lines. “A single choice shall . . . shall end his days. Olympus to per—pursue—” “Preserve,” Annabeth said gently. “It means to save.” “I know what it means,” I grumbled. “Olympus to preserve or raze.” The room was silent. Finally Connor Stoll said, “Raise is good, isn’t it?” “Not raise,” Silena said. Her voice was hollow, but I was startled to hear her speak at all. “R-a-z-e means destroy.” “Obliterate,” Annabeth said. “Annihilate. Turn to rubble.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: The Heroes of Olympus, The Lost Hero, 2010
The passage explores a hero’s internal conflict between destructive power and the desire to protect, highlighting choices that shape destiny.
In simple terms: A hero must choose between destruction and preservation.
Key Takeaway
Make choices that align with protecting what matters.
Themes
heroism
choice
destiny
Mood
tense
mysterious
Type
mythic
narrative
When to use this quote
- decision making
- risk assessment
- personal growth
Key Concepts
mythology
psychology
conflict
Questions to Reflect On
- What does “preserve” mean to you?
- How do you resist destructive temptations?
A Different Perspective
The allure of power can cloud moral judgment.
![“[Hazel] hissed in frustration. 'I hate eidolons. I thought Piper made them promise to stay away.' 'Oh...' Frank said, like he'd just had his own daily happy thought. 'Piper made them promise to stay off the ship and not possess any of us. But if they followed us, and used other bodies to attack…” quote by Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/8da/rick-riordan-27_body_hazel-hissed-in-frustration-i-hate-eidol_24349.jpg)
