Vasilisa Quotes

“Witch. The word drifted across his mind. We call such women so, because we have no other name.”
― Katherine Arden, The Girl in the Tower

“You cannot take vengeance on a whole people because of the doings of a few wicked men.”
― Katherine Arden, The Girl in the Tower

“If I wanted to imprison someone until the end of days, would it not be best to use a prison that he has no desire to escape?”
― Katherine Arden, The Winter of the Witch

“Many people say ‘Better to die’ until the time comes to do it,” Morozko returned.”
― Katherine Arden, The Girl in the Tower

“The more one knows, the sooner one grows old,” Midnight returned cheerfully.”
― Katherine Arden, The Girl in the Tower

“I did not know I was to be outdone by a little magic boy and his tricks,” he said. “I salute you, magician.” He swept her a bow from horseback.

Vasya did not return the bow. “To small minds,” she told him, spine very straight, “any skill must look like sorcery.”
― Katherine Arden, The Girl in the Tower

“I want Dmitrii's admiration. I want a victory. I even want power, over princes and chyerti. I am allowed to want things, winter-king.”
― Katherine Arden, The Winter of the Witch

“The glutton cannot turn his mind to God,” he said dismissively. “But neither can the starving man.”
― Katherine Arden, The Girl in the Tower

“There is no such thing as magic.”

“But you just—”

“Things are or they are not, Vasya,” he interrupted. “If you want something, it means you do not have it, it means that you do not believe it is there, which means it will never be there. The fire is or it is not . That which you call magic is simply not allowing the world to be other than as you will it.”
― Katherine Arden, The Girl in the Tower

“I don’t feel like a traveler now,” Vasya admitted, low, to Morozko .

“Neither do travelers, often enough,” the frost-demon returned.”
― Katherine Arden, The Girl in the Tower

“Go out into the world, traveler. See what the long nights and hard days feel like, after a week of them.”

“Perhaps I will like them,” Vasya retorted, with spirit.

“I sincerely hope not.”
― Katherine Arden, The Girl in the Tower

“Quella sera, quando si rifugiò sotto le coperte e nascose la preziosa bambola sotto il cuscino, cadde subito un sonno profondo e strano, intessuto di sogni come non ne aveva mai avuti, che scorrevano l’uno nell’altro senza peso.”
― Antonella Vigliarolo, La bella Vasilisa, Baba Yaga e la bambola benedetta

“Vasilisa osservò il giocattolo con qualche perplessità. La Russia del suo tempo non mancava di streghe buone e malvagie, selvaggi spiriti dei boschi e fantasmi poco inclini a lasciare in pace i vivi, perciò una bambola portafortuna non le sembrò degna di scetticismo. La stupivano i colori lucidi e vibranti con cui era dipinta e il legno che non recava alcun segno di usura: era strano pensare che un oggetto all’apparenza così nuovo fosse stato tramandato da generazioni di donne.”
― Antonella Vigliarolo, La bella Vasilisa, Baba Yaga e la bambola benedetta