“The man who passes the sentence should swing the sword. If you would take a man's life, you owe it to him to look into his eyes and hear his final words. And if you cannot bear to do that, then perhaps the man does not deserve to die.”

American fantasy author and screenwriter, best known for his epic fantasy series *A Song of Ice and Fire*, which has defined modern fantasy literature. His intricate world-building and morally complex characters have influenced generations of writers and readers, while his work on *Game of Thrones* has made him a central figure in contemporary storytelling.