Matilda Saga Quotes

“Why were humans so good at not seeing anyone who didn't fit into their vision of how things should be?”
― Jackie French, If Blood Should Stain the Wattle

“Teachers had told her she was intelligent. Friends had said so too, often slightly accusatory as if being intelligent had made her too different to be quite comfortable with.”
― Jackie French, The Ghost by the Billabong

“Darling Jed. One day wee are all going to die. That should make us love each other more, not less. Use the time we are given."
"That sounds very wise. But doesn't it just mean life hurts you more?"
"It means you pay for love," said Nancy. "But it is always worth it.”
― Jackie French, If Blood Should Stain the Wattle

“People take you at your own evaluation, or at least the value that you appear to show.”
― Jackie French, The Ghost by the Billabong

“The Church teaches us that it is harder for a rich man to enter heaven than it is for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle. But it is quite possible for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle, as long as the camel is dead, chopped extremely fine, and you have a lot of patience.
I have always thought that instead money is like water. Let money flow to you and past you, like swimming in a river, and it's good, because them that money can be used for good. Keep it and you will drown. But most rich men don't even know they're drowning.”
― Jackie French, If Blood Should Stain the Wattle

“There is nothing wrong in giving those you love more choices," she added. "It is only wrong if you try to blackmail or coax them into making the choice you prefer.”
― Jackie French, If Blood Should Stain the Wattle

“But in her seventy and more years, she had learned that the risks taken for others gave the greatest rewards.”
― Jackie French, Facing the Flame

“Wasn't me who said capitalism was wrong. I just didn't want another argument with Carol. Big projects need capital. It's when the people who have the capital get laws made in their favour that it all goes bad.”
― Jackie French, Facing the Flame

“What sort of person does things like this?"
"I don't know," he said wearily. "All my decades, and I don't know. My brothers and I used to go rabbiting. We killed roos, to, when times were really tough. We ate the meat and sold the skins. I won't lie to you - we enjoyed the hunt, being one with the bush, so we knew where each animal was. I fought in World War II too, and, yes, I killed men then, even though I was a doctor and mostly, if we were lucky, saved them."
"But you never enjoyed the killing," she stated.
"No, Fish love. Every time I pressed the trigger there was the moment of regret. I killed for necessity, and never without regret.”
― Jackie French, The Last Dingo Summer

“They never learn, fish. If they pulled against the line and kept pulling, they'd break it. But they give a tug and wait and hope we've gone away." He winked at her. "Always keep on fighting, Matilda my darlin'. Don't end like a fish.”
― Jackie French