'I swear to you, then,' said MacIan, after a pause. 'I swear to you that nothing shall come between us. I swear to you that nothing shall be in my heart or in my head till our swords clash together. I swear it by the God you have denied, by the Blessed Lady you have blasphemed; I swear it by the seven swords in her heart. I swear it by the Holy Island where my fathers are, by the honour of my mother, by the secret of my people, and by the chalice of the Blood of God.' The atheist drew up his head. 'And I,' he said, 'give my word.'
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Two men of opposing beliefs swear loyalty to each other, placing honor above ideology.
- In plain terms
- An atheist and a believer promise to keep their friendship despite their different gods.
- What can you take from it?
- Shared honor can bridge deep religious divides.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- Can loyalty survive deep ideological splits?
Another view
It relies on personal honor which is not guaranteed.
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