C. J. Cherryh Quotes

Ignorance killed the cat; curiosity was framed!

He could be distracted, still, by beauty, by the wonder of a stroke of sunlight. Perhaps at such times he made himself open to wizardry-or conversely, was as warded and safe at such moments as Ynefel at its strongest. Perhaps threats simply slid past his attention and he made himself immune.

What we individually deserve isn't as much as what we collectively merit.

Intimidation needs response, bait needs biting. If you do neither, the attacker has nothing to build on.

It’s the being there; the working of it; the feel of moving through what could surprise you at any moment. It’s being a dust speck in that scale and pushing your way through all that Empty on your own terms, that no world can do and nothing spinning around one.

Average people didn't analyze what they thought: they thought they thought, and half of it was gut reaction.

Yes, aiji-ma.” “What is this agreement? You are most valuable when you argue, paidhi! Do not say yes to me!” “I shall most strenuously object when you are wrong, aiji-ma. You have been infallibly right at least this last hour.” “Ha.

Flying was no cure for want of sleep. The brain wanted time to recycle: when it became all one long, uninterrupted day, the ability to keep going and to keep thinking was no warrant it was healty even for Superman.-Superman

For another — you can move faster than she can. You are as recognizable as she is. And you are willing to take cover. We are not so certain about the dowager.

Inevitably the party trying to resolve a matter had to contend with the party most willing to exploit it.

There was a wicked man once who called a hatani. ‘Kill my neighbor,’ he said. ‘That’s not hatani business,’ the hatani said and went away. The wicked man found another hatani. ‘My life is wretched,’ the wicked man said. ‘I hate my neighbor. I want to see him die,’ ‘That is a hatani matter,’ the hatani said. ‘Do you give it into my hands?’ ‘Yes,’ the wicked man said. And the hatani struck him dead. Do you understand the solution?” Thorn

The t'ca [ship] left them, rolled and slewed off in a maneuver that made sense to a multi-brained snake.

He’s my enemy. And I need one. I need a good, strong enemy to gather up the people who wish I didn’t exist,

What the visual media could not carry into living rooms, the general public could not long remain exercised about. Statistically, a majority of the electorate could not or did not read complicated issues; no pictures, no news; no news, no event; no great sympathy on the part of the public nor sustained interest from the media: safe politics for the Company.

Jane leaned back against the counter and stared at the ceiling. At the traditional location of God, no matter what the planet.