Talitha

“You’re a virgin. Hell’s fire, Mother Night, and may the Darkness be merciful, you’re a virgin.” Still clutching the coat, she eyed him warily. “There’s no reason to get hysterical. It’s not contagious.” Jared”
― Anne Bishop, The Invisible Ring

“Monty blinked. “On what charge, sir?” “On the charge of being a pain in my ass,” Burke growled. “And right now, that is good enough for an overnight stay in our facility.”
― Anne Bishop, Murder of Crows

“There have been complaints?' said Miss Susan.
'Er, no ... er ... although Miss Smith has told me that the children coming up from your class are, er, restless. Their reading ability is, she says, rather unfortunately advanced ...'
'Miss Smith thinks a good book is about a boy and his dog chasing a big red ball,' said Miss Susan. 'My children have learned to expect a plot. No wonder they get impatient. We're reading Grim Fairy Tales at the moment.'
'That is rather rude of you, Susan.'
'No, madam. That is rather polite of me. It would have been rude of me to say that there is a circle of Hell reserved for teachers like Miss Smith.'
'But that's a dreadf-' Madam Frout stopped, and began again. 'You should not be teaching them to read at all yet!' she snapped. [...] 'I mean,' the headmistress mumbled, 'childhood is a time for play and-'
'Learning,' said Miss Susan.
'Learning through play,' said Madam Frout, grateful to find familiar territory. 'After all, kittens and puppies -'
' -grow up to be cats and dogs, which are even less interesting,' said Miss Susan, 'whereas children should grow up to be adults.' [...]
'What precisely was it you wanted, madam?' she said. It's just that I've left the class doing algebra, and they get restless when they've finished.'
'Algebra?' said Madam Frout [...] 'But that's far too difficult for seven-year-olds!'
'Yes, but I didn't tell them that and so far they haven't found out,' said Susan.”
― Terry Pratchett, Thief of Time

“People think that stories are shaped by people. In fact, it’s the other way around.”
― Terry Pratchett, Witches Abroad