Mistborn Has the Most Inspirational Quote in Fantasy History

Brandon Sanderson has become one of the biggest names in fantasy thanks to his Cosmere universe. One of his most prolific stories is Mistborn Era 1, which introduced people to the powers of Allomancy and the world of Scadrial. It is in Mistborn: The Final Empire that audiences are given one of the most inspirational quotes in the entire fantasy genre.

Mistborn: The Final Empire introduces readers to the characters of Kelsier and his gang of rebels who are looking to overthrow the Lord Ruler, the dark despot who has been in control of the Final Empire for 1000 years. Kelsier is surrounded by incredible companions, one being Sazed, a religious scholar and Keeper of Terris. Sazed and Kelsier have a wonderful dynamic, and it’s their relationship that serves as an inspirational moment.

Kelsier and Sazed’s Conversations Always Provided Inspiration

The core of Kelsier and Sazed’s relationship is built on their conversations about religion. Sazed was a Keeper of Terris, a secret order that used their powers of Feruchemy to store knowledge and protect it at all costs from the Lord Ruler. Sazed specialized in extinct religions, which were some of the first groups that were targeted by the Lord Ruler when he began his reign. This stands in stark opposition to Kelsier.

Kelsier is, for all intents and purposes, an atheist. He fights injustice not because of a religious belief, but because of his own personal ethics and promises to other people. Kelsier has even met Gods before and has not cared at all. Yet, Kelsier is respectful of Sazed and listens to what he has to say. This is a core part of their relationship. Sazed is determined to find a religion for Kelsier to believe in, and Kelsier is looking to debate them all.

As Kelsier’s crew is getting ready for their final heist against the Lord Ruler in The Final Empire, Sazed and Kelsier begin to talk, and Kelsier asks Sazed to talk about the Valla, an extinct religious group. The Vallan leadership was slaughtered by the Lord Ruler, and Kelsier struggles to understand how the people maintain their belief and their hope when times are at their darkest. This is what leads to Sazed’s inspirational quote about the nature of hope.

Sazed’s explanation for why the Vallan people persisted is simple. He stated, “Our belief is often strongest when it should be weakest. That is the nature of hope.” This statement perfectly captures the essence of hope, and not just in Mistborn, but in life in general. It provides Keliser with exactly what he needs to hear and allows him to find the light in the darkness. This quote is foundational to that rebellious spirit that is so pervasive in the fantasy genre.

Sazed’s Mistborn Quote is the Genre’s Most Inspiring

One of the core parts of the fantasy genre as a whole is the “chosen hero” or the small band of rebels standing up against an imposing threat. Hope is the key to so many of these stories. Even Star Wars has the famous quote in Rogue One, “Rebellions are built on hope.” It’s impossible to bring down an oppressive ruler or evil regime without a blind belief that good will overcome evil. This is a main pillar that so much of the fantasy genre is built upon.

The Lord of the Rings is another huge example of this. Frodo is the most unsuspecting hero who accomplishes an unfathomable task. There are countless talks about hope or beating the odds in The Lord of the Rings, and these are certainly inspiring, but many are longer monologues that, while beautiful, don’t sum up the concept as succinctly as Sazed does in Mistborn.

Talking about how when people are the most beaten down and broken, is when they need to find belief the most is beautiful and impactful. It easily summarizes why hope is so powerful. It lifts people up out of their darkness and provides them with a greater goal, something bigger to strive for. Sazed makes it clear that hope and belief isn’t the absence of darkness and doubt, but it’s finding that thing to believe in, in spite of other circumstances.

Mistborn’s Movie Can Bring This Scene to Life for a New Audience

Vin from Mistborn stands in front of iron towers.

After signing a never-before-seen deal with Apple, Brandon Sanderson’s Cosmere is finally going to be coming to the screen. Along with a Stormlight Archive TV show, Apple will first be developing a Mistborn movie. Sanderson himself is turning in scripts for the film, with the first script already being completed. This is all amazing news not just for people who love Sanderson’s work, but also for High Fantasy fans in general. Mistborn has the potential to do for the fantasy genre now what The Lord of the Rings did for the genre in the 2000s.

Fans of the Cosmere have been waiting a long time to see many of their favorite moments and characters come to life in a new medium. Apple’s movie will not only showcase the incredible powers of Allomancy, but it can also bring quiet moments like that between Sazed and Kelsier to life. Having another perspective on a scene like this can help to give it even deeper meaning. It can showcase the power of belief for a whole new generation.

While reading as a hobby seems to be on an upswing again, it’s hard to argue with the wide appeal of films. A Mistborn movie has the power to bring in new fans and bring people back to the books in response to the film. Just like how The Lord of the Rings movies redefined the books, the Mistborn film can do the same. Getting to see Sazed quietly explain the nature of hope will be just as exciting as seeing Vin sail through the air and use her jaw-dropping powers.