Abby

“Even when mundanes didn’t have science to helpfully explain the world and happily burned witches at the stake, they didn’t really believe in magic. If you believed in magic, you wouldn’t drag a witch to the stake; you’d have her lob fireballs at your enemies instead.”
― Naomi Novik, The Golden Enclaves

“Have you ever noticed a little child of three or four walking hand in hand with its father through the streets? It is almost as if the two were walking in time to perfectly different tunes. Indeed, though they hold each other’s hand, they might be walking on different planets … each seeing and hearing entirely different things.”
― Hope Mirrlees, Lud-in-the-Mist

“It was exactly what I wanted, only once I was in it, I didn’t want it after all.”
― Naomi Novik, The Golden Enclaves

“I am,” said Astorgus, mildly, “thirty-nine years old. Yes, I want to retire.”
― Guy Gavriel Kay, Sailing to Sarantium