--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Manon looked to the Thirteen, standing…" description: "\"“Manon looked to the Thirteen, standing around Asterin in a half circle. One by one, they lifted two fingers to their brows. A murmur went through the ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d31/sarah-j-maas-58_better-life_manon-looked-to-the-thirteen-standing-ar_509418.png" --- # Manon looked to the Thirteen, standing around Asterin in a… ![“Manon looked to the Thirteen, standing around Asterin in a half circle. One by one, they lifted two fingers to their brows. A murmur went through the crowd. The gesture not to honor a High Witch. But a Witch-Queen. There had not been a Queen of Witches in five hundred years, either among the…” quote by Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d31/sarah-j-maas-58_better-life_manon-looked-to-the-thirteen-standing-ar_509418.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d31/sarah-j-maas-58_better-life_manon-looked-to-the-thirteen-standing-ar_509418.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d31/sarah-j-maas-58_better-life_manon-looked-to-the-thirteen-standing-ar_509418.png) > ““Manon looked to the Thirteen, standing around Asterin in a half circle. One by one, they lifted two fingers to their brows. A murmur went through the crowd. The gesture not to honor a High Witch. But a Witch-Queen. There had not been a Queen of Witches in five hundred years, either among the Crochans or the Ironteeth. Not one. Forgiveness shone in the faces of her Thirteen. Forgiveness and understanding and loyalty that was not blind obedience, but forged in pain and battle, in shared victory and defeat. Forged in hope for a better life—a better world. At last, Manon found Asterin’s gaze, tears now rolling down her Second’s face. Not from fear or pain, but in farewell. A hundred years—and yet Manon wished she’d had more time.”” [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Forgiveness, understanding, and loyalty emerge from shared hardship, creating hope for a better future. **In simple terms:** Shared pain builds deep loyalty and hope. Key Takeaway Cultivate empathy through shared struggles. Themes forgiveness loyalty hope community Mood hopeful empathetic Type narrative inspirational When to use this quote - war aftermath - family reunions - team building Key Concepts collective trauma reconciliation shared victory Questions to Reflect On - How does shared struggle strengthen bonds? - What actions sustain forgiveness over time? A Different Perspective Forgiveness can be fragile without ongoing effort. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Better world](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/better-world/) [Blind obedience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blind-obedience/) [Victory and defeat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/victory-and-defeat/) ## Related quotes > [“Usually though, especially in these wretched meetings, the duke’s attention was fixed upon the beautiful, raven-haired woman who was never far from his side,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/usually-though-especially-in-these-wretched-meetings-the-duke-s/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) > [“Even though things are different between us now, I meant what I said after the duel with Cain. I will always be grateful that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/even-though-things-are-different-between-us-now-i-meant-what-i-said/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) > [“Regret. It had been regret she’d felt that night she’d killed the Crochan. Regret and guilt and shame, for acting on blind obedience, for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/regret-it-had-been-regret-she-d-felt-that-night-she-d-killed-the/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) > [“Blind obedience is not the same as loyalty.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reki-kawahara/blind-obedience-is-not-the-same-as-loyalty/) [Reki Kawahara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reki-kawahara/) > [“Humanity cannot maintain value in their pitiful existence without blind obedience.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lionel-suggs/humanity-cannot-maintain-value-in-their-pitiful-existence-without/) [Lionel Suggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lionel-suggs/) > [Strengthen the female mind by enlarging it, and there will be an end to blind obedience; but, as blind obedience is ever sought for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-wollstonecraft/strengthen-the-female-mind-by-enlarging-it-and-there-will-be-an-end/) [Mary Wollstonecraft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-wollstonecraft/) > [War paralyzes your courage and deadens the spirit of true manhood. It degrades and stupefies with the sense that you are not responsible, that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-berkman/war-paralyzes-your-courage-and-deadens-the-spirit-of-true-manhood-it/) [Alexander Berkman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-berkman/) > [I taught public school for 26 years, but I just can't do it anymore. For years I asked the school board to let me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-taylor-gatto/i-taught-public-school-for-26-years-but-i-just-can-t-do-it-anymore/) [John Taylor Gatto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-taylor-gatto/) > [But you don't need to worry. The Lord will never let his mouthpiece lead the people astray.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marion-g-romney/but-you-don-t-need-to-worry-the-lord-will-never-let-his-mouthpiece/) [Marion G. Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marion-g-romney/) > [Blind obedience is a sure sign of trouble. The likelihood of religion becoming evil is greatly diminished when there is freedom for individual thinking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-kimball/blind-obedience-is-a-sure-sign-of-trouble-the-likelihood-of-religion/) [Charles Kimball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-kimball/) > [The Middle Ages were an era of mysticism, ruled by blind faith and blind obedience to the dogma that faith is superior to reason.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/the-middle-ages-were-an-era-of-mysticism-ruled-by-blind-faith-and/) [Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/) > [War means blind obedience, unthinking stupidity, brutish callousness, wanton destruction, and irresponsible murder.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-berkman/war-means-blind-obedience-unthinking-stupidity-brutish-callousness/) [Alexander Berkman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-berkman/) > [Nothing is more destructive of human dignity than a rule which imposes a mute and blind obedience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-eden/nothing-is-more-destructive-of-human-dignity-than-a-rule-which/) [Anthony Eden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-eden/) > [Under any religion, the preestablished impersonal code transcends the right of the individual to explore, experience, and marvel at the mysteries of his own…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerry-spence/under-any-religion-the-preestablished-impersonal-code-transcends-the/) [Gerry Spence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerry-spence/) > [ “In 1914... \[German\] history, poetry, dream and the individual moment were all combined in one exhilarating sensation...The nation was a creation of one's imagination,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-rites-of-spring-modris-eksteins/in-1914-german-history-poetry-dream-and-the-individual-moment-were/) The Rites of Spring Modris Eksteins ## More by Sarah J. Maas > [“Light it up, bitch.' 'Light it up, asshole,' ...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/light-it-up-bitch-light-it-up-asshole/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) > [“What does he look like? The question was soft- tentative. I knew who he meant. I interlaced my fingers through Rhysand's and squeezed tightly.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/what-does-he-look-like-the-question-was-soft-tentative-i-knew-who-he/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) > [“Lysandra chuckled, a surprisingly deep, wicked sound—probably a laugh she never let Arobynn or her clients hear. “Some night soon, I’ll sneak back in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/lysandra-chuckled-a-surprisingly-deep-wicked-sound-probably-a-laugh/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) > [“I love you. I am in love with you, Rowan. I have been for a while. And I know there are limits to what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/i-love-you-i-am-in-love-with-you-rowan-i-have-been-for-a-while-and-i/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) > [“Perhaps Nesta will take up the blood-drinking habit, too. I certainly believe her threat to rip out my throat. Maybe she'll enjoy the taste.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/perhaps-nesta-will-take-up-the-blood-drinking-habit-too-i-certainly/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) > [“To being the most fearsome and imposing girls the world has ever seen.” Celaena raised her goblet high before she drank. As she swallowed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/to-being-the-most-fearsome-and-imposing-girls-the-world-has-ever-seen/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) > [“have no interest in prisoners or battling today,” Manon said. The Queen of Terrasen gave her a grin. “Good.” Manon turned away, barking at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/have-no-interest-in-prisoners-or-battling-today-manon-said-the-queen/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) > [“Well, I'm late for something incredibly important," Lucien said, and before I could call him on his outright lie or beg him to stay,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/well-i-m-late-for-something-incredibly-important-lucien-said-and/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) > [“Holy gods. He'd frozen the whole damn lake. He was THAT powerful?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/holy-gods-he-d-frozen-the-whole-damn-lake-he-was-that-powerful/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) > [“She bellowed the last word with such soul-deep hatred that he felt it like a punch to the gut.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/she-bellowed-the-last-word-with-such-soul-deep-hatred-that-he-felt-it/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) > [“Afraid she and I had a summer romance?" That insufferable grin was still there. "I hope you did. I certainly enjoyed myself this summer."…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/afraid-she-and-i-had-a-summer-romance-that-insufferable-grin-was/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) > [“There are different kinds of darkness,” Rhys said. I kept my eyes shut. “There is the darkness that frightens, the darkness that soothes, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/there-are-different-kinds-of-darkness-rhys-said-i-kept-my-eyes-shut/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) > [“So you’re going to ask Ress and Brullo to just leave a back door open so you can sneak in?” “Don’t be so simpleminded.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/so-you-re-going-to-ask-ress-and-brullo-to-just-leave-a-back-door-open/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) > [“Gently, he pulled my hands away from my face. Gently, he took my cheeks in his hands and brushed away my tears. I didn’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/gently-he-pulled-my-hands-away-from-my-face-gently-he-took-my-cheeks/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) > [“I barely saw my silk slipper as it flew through the air, fast as a shooting star, so fast that even a High Lord…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/i-barely-saw-my-silk-slipper-as-it-flew-through-the-air-fast-as-a/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) [Explore all 1,807 Sarah J. Maas quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) ## More Better life quotes > [My father longed for a better life for us, and when I was nine he got a job as a heart surgeon in Belfast.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-melua/my-father-longed-for-a-better-life-for-us-and-when-i-was-nine-he-got/) [Katie Melua](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-melua/) > [A faithfully kept program of savings and conservative investments can give you more money and a better life than that of your neighbors who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-bryant-quinn/a-faithfully-kept-program-of-savings-and-conservative-investments-can/) [Jane Bryant Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-bryant-quinn/) > [“There is no greater force for change than people inspired to live a better life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-maraboli/there-is-no-greater-force-for-change-than-people-inspired-to-live-a/) [Steve Maraboli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-maraboli/) > [If you want to live a meaningfully better life, you're going to have to make the dangerous choice to dissent. A life lived meaningfully…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/umair-haque/if-you-want-to-live-a-meaningfully-better-life-you-re-going-to-have/) [Umair Haque](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/umair-haque/) > [“I've know Bruce Wayne for over 50 years, and Ive kept an eye on you your whole life. You're not Bruce's clone, you're his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-timm/i-ve-know-bruce-wayne-for-over-50-years-and-ive-kept-an-eye-on-you/) [Bruce Timm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-timm/) > [TIPS FOR A BETTER LIFE.. 1. Live without pretending. 2. Love without depending. 3. Listen without defending. 4. Speak without offending.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nishan-panwar/tips-for-a-better-life-1-live-without-pretending-2-love-without/) [Nishan Panwar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nishan-panwar/) > [There is always the possibility of a better life with every change that we face, but sometimes we have to look hard for it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bowick/there-is-always-the-possibility-of-a-better-life-with-every-change/) [David Bowick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bowick/) > [So in the near future, two or three years, people in Kyrgyzstan will experience a better life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurmanbek-bakiyev/so-in-the-near-future-two-or-three-years-people-in-kyrgyzstan-will/) Kurmanbek Bakiyev > [I want to make sure that I fulfill the aspirations of the Gabonese people: to have access to a better life, job opportunities, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ali-bongo-ondimba/i-want-to-make-sure-that-i-fulfill-the-aspirations-of-the-gabonese/) [Ali Bongo Ondimba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ali-bongo-ondimba/) > [We will strive to make Taiwan a better place and enable our people to live better lives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chen-shui-bian/we-will-strive-to-make-taiwan-a-better-place-and-enable-our-people-to/) [Chen Shui-bian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chen-shui-bian/) > [The slums are not a place of despair. Its inhabitants are all working towards a better life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikas-swarup/the-slums-are-not-a-place-of-despair-its-inhabitants-are-all-working/) [Vikas Swarup](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikas-swarup/) > [I see history as really cyclical in terms of the intense idealism, and the desire to create a better life outside of societal norms.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-groff/i-see-history-as-really-cyclical-in-terms-of-the-intense-idealism-and/) [Lauren Groff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-groff/) > [If I died Some people will be soo happy and though a party,Other will regret what they had said to me,and people who really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jasmine/if-i-died-some-people-will-be-soo-happy-and-though-a-party-other-will/) [Jasmine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jasmine/) > [There is no more important task in a democracy than resolving the differences among people and finding a course of action that will be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-mcnamara/there-is-no-more-important-task-in-a-democracy-than-resolving-the/) [Robert McNamara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-mcnamara/) > [There isn't any wall, however high, however wide or however big, whatever it is made from, that can bar you from achieving a better…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-luis-rodriguez-zapatero/there-isn-t-any-wall-however-high-however-wide-or-however-big/) [Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-luis-rodriguez-zapatero/) Browse all 925 Better life quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Manon looked to the Thirteen, standing around Asterin in a half circle. One by one, they lifted two fingers to their brows. A murmur went through the crowd. The gesture not to honor a High Witch. But a Witch-Queen. There had not been a Queen of Witches in five hundred years, either among the Crochans or the Ironteeth. Not one. Forgiveness shone in the faces of her Thirteen. Forgiveness and understanding and loyalty that was not blind obedience, but forged in pain and battle, in shared victory and defeat. Forged in hope for a better life—a better world. At last, Manon found Asterin’s gaze, tears now rolling down her Second’s face. Not from fear or pain, but in farewell. A hundred years—and yet Manon wished she’d had more time.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Sarah J. Maas" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/manon-looked-to-the-thirteen-standing-around-asterin-in-a-half-circle/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Better life" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/manon-looked-to-the-thirteen-standing-around-asterin-in-a-half-circle/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d31/sarah-j-maas-58_better-life_manon-looked-to-the-thirteen-standing-ar_509418.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d31/sarah-j-maas-58_better-life_manon-looked-to-the-thirteen-standing-ar_509418.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d31/sarah-j-maas-58_better-life_manon-looked-to-the-thirteen-standing-ar_509418.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Manon looked to the Thirteen, standing around Asterin in a half circle. One by one, they lifted two fingers…” — Sarah J. Maas", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Sarah J. Maas", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Manon looked to the Thirteen, standing...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/manon-looked-to-the-thirteen-standing-around-asterin-in-a-half-circle/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/manon-looked-to-the-thirteen-standing-around-asterin-in-a-half-circle/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```