Di > Di's Quotes

“You wouldn't want to be king of my country," I said.
"Why is that?"
"Well, you're rather fat. I doubt you'd fit onto my throne.”
― Jennifer A. Nielsen, The Runaway King

“Her eyes scanned the dark skies. "Did it rain? Why are you all wet?"
"A nighttime bath."
"Fully dressed?"
"I'm modest.”
― Jennifer A. Nielsen, The Runaway King

“Conner answered, "Mrs. Turbeldy warned me that you have a history of running away. Where did you go?"
To the church of course. To confess my sins.”
― Jennifer A. Nielsen, The False Prince

“Avenia thinks they're battling a king. I doubt they're prepared to fight a boy who thinks childish pranks are practical strategies for war."

"Aren't they?”
― Jennifer A. Nielsen, The Shadow Throne

“In the joy of others lies our own,
In the progress of others rests our own,
In the good of others abides our own,
Know this to be the key to peace and happiness”
― Pramukh Swami Maharaj

“I'm still a king. My title isn't determined by my crown; it's in my blood.”
― Jennifer A. Nielsen, The Runaway King

“A person can be educated and still be stupid, and a wise man can have no education at all.”
― Jennifer A. Nielsen, The False Prince

“Tess, Tess, Tessa.

Was there ever a more beautiful sound than your name? To speak it aloud makes my heart ring like a bell. Strange to imagine that, isn’t it – a heart ringing – but when you touch me that is what it is like: as if my heart is ringing in my chest and the sound shivers down my veins and splinters my bones with joy.

Why have I written these words in this book? Because of you. You taught me to love this book where I had scorned it. When I read it for the second time, with an open mind and heart, I felt the most complete despair and envy of Sydney Carton. Yes, Sydney, for even if he had no hope that the woman he loved would love him, at least he could tell her of his love. At least he could do something to prove his passion, even if that thing was to die.

I would have chosen death for a chance to tell you the truth, Tessa, if I could have been assured that death would be my own. And that is why I envied Sydney, for he was free.

And now at last I am free, and I can finally tell you, without fear of danger to you, all that I feel in my heart.

You are not the last dream of my soul.

You are the first dream, the only dream I ever was unable to stop myself from dreaming. You are the first dream of my soul, and from that dream I hope will come all other dreams, a lifetime’s worth.

With hope at least,
Will Herondale”
― Cassandra Clare, Clockwork Prince

“And O there are days in this life, worth life and worth death.”
― Charles Dickens, Our Mutual Friend

“It has been the privilege and the honor of my life to know you.”
― Cassandra Clare, Clockwork Princess

“Now, come over here so I can pat you down."
"But you don't have-" Percy stopped. "Uh, sure."
He stood next to the armless statue. Terminus conducted a rigorous mental pat down.
"You seem to be clean," Terminus decided. "Do you have anything to declare?"
"Yes," Percy said. "I declare that this is stupid.”
― Rick Riordan, The Son of Neptune

“Master Graves was incensed and said, as punishment for my disruption, I would have to write my letters an extra ten times that day.
"Ten times the better I'll know them, then." I said. "How strange that you should punish me by ensuring I come out more educated than Roden, who has tried to obey you.”
― Jennifer A. Nielsen, The False Prince

“The saddest thing is there won’t be anyone to miss us when we’re gone. No family, no friends, no one waiting at home.”
“It’s better that way,” I said. “It’ll be easier for me, knowing my death doesn’t add to anyone’s pain.”
“If you can’t give anyone pain, then you can’t give them joy either.”
― Jennifer A. Nielsen, The False Prince

“Above all else, I think that you are a compulsive liar."
My laughter was tense, but sincere. "Hardly. In fact, I consider myself a compulsive truth teller. It's only that everyone else seems compelled to misunderstand me.”
― Jennifer A. Nielsen, The Runaway King

“Everyone gets scared at times. It's only the fools who won't admit it.”
― Jennifer A. Nielsen, The Runaway King

“You stole it from the master."
"Who stole it from me. What I did simply set the universe back in order.”
― Jennifer A. Nielsen

“You're such a young king. I barely remember being your age."
"Then clearly we're talking about how old you are, not how young I am.”
― Jennifer A. Nielsen, The Runaway King

“Is it true?" Devlin asked me. "You're Prince Jaron?"
"KING Jaron, actually. News must travel slower amongst the illiterate." I glared at Gregor with every inch of disdain I felt. "Shouldn't you be groveling to me or bowing or something?"
Gregor smiled. "I think before I have the chance, you will already be dead."
"Ah. So much for all your toasts to my long life.”
― Jennifer A. Nielsen, The Runaway King

“The pirates wanted my life, Vargen wanted my country, and my regents wanted to paint rainbows over reality and claim all was well.”
― Jennifer A. Nielsen, The Runaway King

“I thought you were from a civilized country," he said. "How have you come to look more like Carthya's whipping boy than its king?"
"I have a habit of irritating some of our less civilized people," I answered. "But you seem like a civilized...pirate. I'd much prefer it if you didn't have me whipped."
"And why shouldn't I?"
With some effort, I forced a smile to my face. "Because it will hurt.”
― Jennifer A. Nielsen, The Runaway King

“Fink had a full bowl and grinned at me as he sat back on the bench. "It would help if you used words like 'please' and 'thank you.'"
"Then I'll thank you to please stay out of my business.”
― Jennifer A. Nielsen, The Runaway King

“I won't start the battle, but if it comes, I'll finish it.”
― Jennifer A. Nielsen, The Runaway King

“One of the greatest kings?” My smile widened. “That’s it? Why not the greatest?”

“This will only make your arrogance worse, I’m sure.”

“Really? Do you think that’s possible?”
― Jennifer A. Nielsen, The Shadow Throne

“Any chance we can bypass the cruelest method of death and settle this over a game of cards?”
― Jennifer A. Nielsen, The Runaway King

“As they began to tie me, I wanted to yell out, to release some of my fear that way, but I held it in. Imogen wouldn't be that far from here yet, and I didn't want her to know what was about to happen.
If it was possible to scream on the inside, though, I was, and the sound of it was deafening.”
― Jennifer A. Nielsen, The Runaway King

“If I had to do it over again, I would not have chosen this life. Then again, I'm not sure I ever had a choice.”
― Jennifer A. Nielsen

“if you hurt deeply, then it means you love deeply too. love is powerful thing, Jaron. In the end, love will help you win this war."
I chuckled, "that'd be a fine new strategy, I think. When the enemy wields a sword against me, I'll simply express my love for them. They'll be so shocked, they'll collapse on the spot and the victory will be mine."
"I daresay you will be the first to claim victory that way”
― Jennifer A. Nielsen, The Shadow Throne

“Once we were alone, Imogen unfolded her hand. In it, she held the key to the chains. I had passed it to her while we were in the embrace. Roden noticed it and scowled. "You gave her the key and not me? I could be free already."
I smiled at him. "Yes, but I wasn't going to kiss you."
"Fair enough”
― Jennifer A. Nielsen, The Shadow Throne

“Tell me, tutor,' I said. 'Is revenge a science, or an art?”
― Mark Lawrence, Prince of Thorns

“If you're too open-minded; your brains will fall out.”
― Lawrence Ferlinghetti