Em > Em's Quotes

“The trouble with having an open mind, of course, is that people will insist on coming along and trying to put things in it.”
― Terry Pratchett, Diggers

“Give a man a fire and he's warm for a day, but set fire to him and he's warm for the rest of his life.”
― Terry Pratchett, Jingo

“Some humans would do anything to see if it was possible to do it. If you put a large switch in some cave somewhere, with a sign on it saying 'End-of-the-World Switch. PLEASE DO NOT TOUCH', the paint wouldn't even have time to dry.”
― Terry Pratchett, Thief of Time

“Why did you do all this for me?' he asked. 'I don't deserve it. I've never done anything for you.' 'You have been my friend,' replied Charlotte. 'That in itself is a tremendous thing.”
― E.B. White, Charlotte’s Web

“It is said that your life flashes before your eyes just before you die. That is true, it's called Life.”
― Terry Pratchett, The Last Continent

“Stories of imagination tend to upset those without one.”
― Terry Pratchett

“And perhaps it is the greater grief, after all, to be left on earth when another is gone.”
― Madeline Miller, The Song of Achilles

“If cats looked like frogs we'd realize what nasty, cruel little bastards they are. Style. That's what people remember.”
― Terry Pratchett, Lords and Ladies

“If you want to write a negative review, don't tickle me gently with your aesthetic displeasure about my work. Unleash the goddamn Kraken."

[on Twitter, July 17, 2012]”
― Scott Lynch

“I cut off his fingers to get him to talk, and when he'd confessed everything I wanted to hear, I had his fucking tongue cut out, and the stump cauterized."

Everyone in the room stared at him.

"I called him an asshole, too," said Locke. "He didn't like that.”
― Scott Lynch, The Lies of Locke Lamora

“I only steal because my dear old family needs the money to live!"
Locke Lamora made this proclamation with his wine glass held high; he and the other Gentleman Bastards were seated at the old witchwood table. . . . The others began to jeer.
"Liar!" they chorused
"I only steal because this wicked world won't let me work an honest trade!" Calo cried, hoisting his own glass.
"LIAR!"
"I only steal," said Jean, "because I've temporarily fallen in with bad company."
"LIAR!"
At last the ritual came to Bug; the boy raised his glass a bit shakily and yelled, "I only steal because it's heaps of fucking fun!"
"BASTARD!”
― Scott Lynch, The Lies of Locke Lamora

“I don't have to beat you. I don't have to beat you, motherfucker. I just have to keep you here... until Jean shows up.”
― Scott Lynch, The Lies of Locke Lamora

“I had such a beautiful evening planned. Candlelight, dancing, maybe a few flirtatious threats. And what do I get? Grand Theft Equine.”
― Jill Bearup, Just Stab Me Now

“this wasn’t how the masquerade was supposed to go.’ Rosamund shortened Scout’s reins and scowled down at her. ‘What, was I supposed to be stupider?’ ‘Frankly, yes.’ ‘I’m not sorry.”
― Jill Bearup, Just Stab Me Now

“Believe the lie, trust the lie. It is the only thing you have. Stay in the cage and paint the walls.”
― R. F. Kuang, Katabasis (Collector's Edition): A Novel

“She kept the grainy television set on at all hours in the lounge, and if her housemates were bothered, at least they left her alone. Dr. Who went on trial. Ringo Starr played with toy trains.”
― R.F. Kuang, Katabasis

“War doesn't determine who's right. War determines who remains.”
― R.F. Kuang, The Poppy War

“Oh, but history moved in such vicious circles.”
― R.F. Kuang, The Burning God

“We aren’t here to be sophisticated. We’re here to fuck people up.”
― R.F. Kuang, The Poppy War

“The point of revenge wasn’t to heal. The point was that the exhilaration, however temporary, drowned out the hurt.”
― R.F. Kuang, The Burning God

“Power dictates acceptability,”
― R.F. Kuang, The Poppy War

“How did you get a demon in your chicken?'

'The usual way. Couldn't put it in the rooster. That's how you get basilisks.”
― T. Kingfisher, Nettle & Bone

“Rage was only useful if you were allowed to do anything with it.”
― T. Kingfisher, Nettle & Bone

“Lots of people deserve to die,” said the dust-wife finally. “Not everybody deserves to be a killer.”
― T. Kingfisher, Nettle & Bone

“Are you all right?" asked Fenris.

"Horrible puppet," she said, "demon chicken, fairy godmother."

"And it's a fool's errand and we're all going to die," said Fenris. He patted her shoulder. "Still, I have to admit I didn't see the chicken or the puppet coming.”
― T. Kingfisher, Nettle & Bone

“Fenris was a good man and maybe the weakness of being good was that evil didn't occur to you.”
― T. Kingfisher, Nettle & Bone

“You’re a terrible liar, Marra. You look as if you’re afraid the universe is ashamed of you.”
― T. Kingfisher, Nettle & Bone

“It's a fool's errand and we'll probably all die," said the dust-wife.

"Oh, well then," said Fenris. "I always enjoy those.”
― T. Kingfisher, Nettle & Bone

“Caroline Lindley,’ said Robin, not bothering to open his eyes, ‘you are talking to a character you made up in your own head. If there are terrible euphemisms going on, you only have yourself to blame.”
― Jill Bearup, Just Stab Me Now

“This was the problem with using previously conceived characters in a new book. You sometimes forgot important details about them. Like their wives, with whom they had a superbly adventurous courtship and an action-packed marriage, most likely in more ways than one. Caroline watched in despair as the last chance of a love triangle disappeared over the horizon—probably sailing off in the trading ship she’d just remembered Elinor owned—and tried not to sigh.”
― Jill Bearup, Just Stab Me Now