Polly

“He was also becoming aware of an unpleasant smell. Damn it. I’ve shit myself again.”
― Joe Abercrombie, The Blade Itself

“I stole a knife from dinner that night. Just to have something—anything—to defend myself with.”
― Sarah J. Maas, A Court of Thorns and Roses

“The world has held great Heroes, As history-books have showed; But never a name to go down to fame Compared with that of Toad! 'The clever men at Oxford Know all that there is to be knowed. But they none of them know one half as much As intelligent Mr. Toad! 'The animals sat in the Ark and cried, Their tears in torrents flowed. Who was it said, "There's land ahead?" Encouraging Mr. Toad! 'The army all saluted As they marched along the road. Was it the King? Or Kitchener? No. It was Mr. Toad. 'The Queen and her Ladies-in-waiting Sat at the window and sewed. She cried, "Look! who's that handsome man?" They answered, "Mr. Toad.”
― Kenneth Grahame, The Wind in the Willows

“Time is an unkind teacher, delivering lessons that we learn far too late for them to be useful.”
― Robin Hobb, Fool's Assassin