Lina > Lina's Quotes

“Kneel, please," Connor said. "I wish to study you better."
Come as close to me as you'd like," I answered. "Study me here, on my feet."
"You won't kneel?"
"Would a prince?"
Conner raised his voice. "You're not a prince until I say so."
"I don't need you to say so, sir. As you see me standing here, I am the prince of Carthya.”
― Jennifer A. Nielsen, The False Prince

“...a strong heart will always overcome a strong body”
― Jennifer A. Nielsen, The False Prince

“You are the biggest fool of a boy I've ever known," Mott said. Then his tone softened. "But you will serve Carthya well."
"I wish I felt ready to do this," I said. "The closer we come to the moment, the more I see every defect in my character that caused my parents to send me away in the first place."
"From all I'm told, the prince they sent away was selfish, mischievous, and destructive. The king who returns is courageous, noble, and strong."
"And a fool," I added
Mott chuckled. "You are that too.”
― Jennifer A. Nielsen, The False Prince

“There's an old saying in Avenia that goes, "Just because it's calmer than a hailstorm doesn't mean it's calm.”
― Jennifer A. Nielsen, The False Prince

“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

“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

“Carthya's not my country," I said, reaching for the doors to leave. "Frankly, I hope Avenia Destroys it”
― Jennifer A. Nielsen, The False Prince

“Valuable lessons were code words for pain that no one apologized for.”
― Jennifer A. Nielsen, The False Prince

“Sage: "Conner's held you down for so long, you've forgotten what it's like to breathe free air."

Imogen: "And you've given your life to his control forever. You'll never breathe free air again.”
― Jennifer A. Nielsen, The False Prince

“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

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

“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

“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

“You should thank me for tolerating you. I had hoped that becoming a royal would cure your foul manners."
"That's interesting. My father hoped that stripping me of royalty would do the same thing.”
― Jennifer A. Nielsen, The Runaway King

“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

“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

“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

“Erick: "I think I may grow to hate you before this is over."
Jaron/Sage: "But you don't already and that's got to be some sort of record.”
― 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 need a sword first," I said. "People here keep taking mine.”
― 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

“Long live king Jaron. If he leads us half as well as he entertains us, then Carthya has a truly great future ahead.”
― Jennifer A. Nielsen, The Runaway King

“(Talking about Jaron's broken leg)
"How does it feel?" Fink asked.
"Like butterfly kisses, what do you think?”
― 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

“My hands folded into fists. "As king, that is my order."
"Forgive me, but the king's order is the most reckless thing he's ever said, which we both know is quite an accomplishment. If you want to stop me from dragging you back to Drylliad, then you'll have to kill me here."
"I can't do that," I said. "Who'll make sure Tobias gets back safely? He can hardly cross a road without endangering himself."
"I can too," Tobias said.”
― Jennifer A. Nielsen, The Runaway King

“By now, Gregor had recovered. "Sage? Devlin, forgive my accusation, but you are a fool. Don't you know who this is?"
Devlin didn't appear to forgive the accusation. With a sneer on his face, he folded his arms and said, "Enlighten me."
Gregor looked at me and frowned. "He can perform the Avenian accent as well as his own Carthyan tongue. And although he has a reputation for being able to steal the white off snow if he chooses to, this boy is far from being a mere thief. Devlin, you are facing the boy who has haunted the pirates for the past four years. This is Jaron, the lost prince of Carthya.”
― Jennifer A. Nielsen, The Runaway King

“Do you laugh at me?"
He was quiet for a moment and finally the tention drained from him. "No, Jaron," he said darkly. "I curse you with every breath I exhale, but I do not laugh.”
― Jennifer A. Nielsen, The Runaway King

“You'll address me by my title," I said sharply. "And bow until your pointed chin scrapes the floor.”
― Jennifer A. Nielsen, The Runaway King

“I can't do that," I said. "Who'll make sure Tobias gets back safely? He can hardly cross a road without endangering himself.”
― Jennifer A. Nielsen, The Runaway King

“How is it that you can see your enemies so clearly and never your friends?”
― Jennifer A. Nielsen, The Runaway King