Jessica Cluess > Quotes

“Knowledge is as powerful as fire. The brighter it burns, the more it devours.”
― Jessica Cluess, A Shadow Bright and Burning

“It's easy to poke fun at the world and think yourself clever, but it's much harder to stand silent and endure.”
― Jessica Cluess, A Shadow Bright and Burning

“I have always been uncomfortable with fragile things, like feelings and confessions. Butterflies, too.”
― Jessica Cluess, A Shadow Bright and Burning

“I find a dash of insolence to be quite enjoyable from time to time.”
― Jessica Cluess, A Shadow Bright and Burning

“Your stupidity is terrifying.”
― Jessica Cluess, A Shadow Bright and Burning

“I didn't know how lonely I was," he said as we bowed, "until I had you on my side.”
― Jessica Cluess, A Shadow Bright and Burning

“People do what they think is right, but that does not make it good.”
― Jessica Cluess, A Poison Dark and Drowning

“It sometimes feels as though young women are trained from birth never to contribute anything original to a conversation.”
― Jessica Cluess, A Shadow Bright and Burning

“Don’t remind me of that,” Blackwood snapped. “I’m not in love with her, but I can see her value.”
“Always about value with you, isn’t it? Why don’t you grow a personality? You’re like a shambling ghost, curdling everyone’s blood whenever you walk into a room.”
“At least I don’t spend my time seducing innocent young women.”
“Someone’s been reading novels again. What’s the title of this one? The Poxy Lordling and the Aggressive Milkmaid?” Magnus sighed. “I tried to leave her alone, but I can’t help myself. She teases me in just the right way—”
Blackwood made a disgusted noise. “I don’t care. Unless you want an enemy, Magnus, leave her alone.”
― Jessica Cluess, A Shadow Bright and Burning

“Ferox et stultus," I said, grinning. "perhaps those are the Howel words as well."
"No, yours would be I have a brilliant plan, followed by Blackwood moaning in horror.”
― Jessica Cluess, A Poison Dark and Drowning

“You don’t have to teach me how to do what you do. Just teach me—”
“How I do what I do, but not how to do what I do? What if what I do has to do with my knowledge of what to do, and doing requires only the knowledge of doing? What would you do then?”
I blinked. “I believe you hurt my brain.”
― Jessica Cluess, A Shadow Bright and Burning

“I am not interested in what is pleasant. I'm interested in what's useful.”
― Jessica Cluess, A Shadow Bright and Burning

“There is no winner till the race is run.”
― Jessica Cluess, A Shadow Bright and Burning

“Despite everything - your lies, your wounds, I cannot help but love you. I'm helpless against it.”
― Jessica Cluess, A Poison Dark and Drowning

“When I had your friendship, I thought I could never want for anything more. But over time, I have come to feel for you beyond anything I thought I could.”
― Jessica Cluess, A Poison Dark and Drowning

“I know your mind, and I swear to God if you take it upon yourself to go to him, I will drag you home even if it kills me. Do you hear?” His eyes shone with panic. “I'll never let him have you.”
― Jessica Cluess, A Poison Dark and Drowning

“Ajax gaped. "What the f-"
"Fibula? Another excellent word! Tra la!”
― Jessica Cluess, House of Dragons

“You’re a cuckoo in the nest. If they learn the truth, they’ll push you out and break your neck.”
― Jessica Cluess, A Shadow Bright and Burning

“Gods dream of empires, but devils build them.”
― Jessica Cluess, House of Dragons

“There are other sorcerer women in history you might admire,” Agrippa said. “Hypatia of Alexandria, the teacher. Much like you.” He smiled. “Hatshepsut, deemed by many as the greatest pharaoh in Egypt’s long history.” It struck me as odd that most sorcerer women belonged solely to antiquity, as if the glory of female magic were some crumbling myth to be debated by scholars.”
― Jessica Cluess, A Shadow Bright and Burning

“Most of the world's agony comes from what people misinterpret in books, the rest from pampered house cats.”
― Jessica Cluess, A Poison Dark and Drowning

“Every day, the prince returned with honeyed words. He brought gifts, hired musicians. Every day, the fairie was gracious and kind, but composed. Still, he wore down her defenses with his charm. And the prince was sincere in his courtship - he somehow forgot how rakish his intentions were. He was a man who lived for the present moment.”
― Jessica Cluess, A Sorrow Fierce and Falling

“We were marked for one another in darkness.”
― Jessica Cluess, A Sorrow Fierce and Falling

“Real magic,” Hargrove said, waving his hand again and returning the beetle to half a gold piece, “is about pushing the limits of what can and cannot be imagined. But I expect you’re all still content with starting fires and making it rain.” He swept the cards back into the pack and slid it into his purple-orange-red coat. “At least our magic is perfectly natural,” I muttered, stung by his rudeness.”
― Jessica Cluess, A Shadow Bright and Burning

“Those,” he said, slipping the knife into the folds of his coat, “are the sorts of questions you can’t ask.” “You don’t have to teach me how to do what you do. Just teach me—” “How I do what I do, but not how to do what I do? What if what I do has to do with my knowledge of what to do, and doing requires only the knowledge of doing? What would you do then?” I blinked. “I believe you hurt my brain.” “It’s a good brain, all things considered. Listen, my adorable bonfire, I cannot teach you much. Our safety requires it. But I suppose a little magic never did a body a great deal of harm. Unless it was the magical art of rearranging bones. Or turning flesh inside out. Or—never mind. Really, I’d forgotten how much I missed being collegial with my own kind. A magician without an apprentice is like a dog without a bark.”
― Jessica Cluess, A Shadow Bright and Burning

“Ever since Cellini’s attack, Blackwood and the others had taken extra care of me. Lambe and Wolff showed me new strategies for chess. Dee tried especially hard not to step on my feet during dance practice.”
― Jessica Cluess, A Shadow Bright and Burning

“You are the better part of my soul.”
― Jessica Cluess, A Sorrow Fierce and Falling

“I’ll never marry. No man could want me in battle, and I wouldn’t want anyone who might keep me away from my duty.”
“Don’t be so hasty to rule out gentlemen’s understanding,” Magnus said. “There are some who admire a capable girl. One of them might be closer than you think, if you’d take the time to notice what’s before you.” He leaned closer. For a second, I didn’t dare breathe. Since our moment in the library, Magnus had returned to his old, harmless flirtation. I’d half hoped it would stay that way. He sighed gently and said, “Can’t you see the way Palehook looks at you?”
He laughed. I was so relieved that I joined him.”
― Jessica Cluess, A Shadow Bright and Burning

“I would do most anything to make you happy, Howel, if you'd let me. I would become your servant, lay whatever you wanted at your feet.”
― Jessica Cluess, A Poison Dark and Drowning

“Flibberty bop, to the top, allons-y, charge.”
― Jessica Cluess, A Shadow Bright and Burning