Diana Wynne Jones Quotes

"This is a very old argument. The greatest happiness of the greatest number. If you think about it, you'll find it always works out that a few suffer for the good of the rest." "In stories," Gair agreed hopelessly. "brave men die defending the rest. But this isn't like that!" "Call it the modern version," Mr Claybury suggested kindly.

One does not want glory accepted as a matter of course. One wants to shock and astonish people with it.

"Unprintable things!" I said - only I didn't say that. I really said them.

Mitt did not quite forget his perfect land. He remembered it, though a little fuzzily, next time the wind dropped, but he did not set off to look for it again. It was plain to him that soldiers only brought you back again if you went. It made him sad. When an inkling of it came to him in silence, or in scents, or, later, if the wind hummed a certain note, or a storm came shouting in from the sea and he caught the same note in the midst of its noise, he thought of his lost perfect place and felt for a moment as if his heart would break.

Pretending was like that. Things seemed to make themselves up, once you got going.

If you stood up and told the truth in the wrong way, it was not true any longer, though it might be as powerful as ever.

"Oh, Lord! He's a weeper!" Grandad said disgustedly. "I wish I'd known. I'd have stayed away." "A lot of Merlins have cried when they prophesied," Dad pointed out. "I know. But I don't have to like it, do I?" Grandad retorted.

I was a thoroughly hardened Homeward Bounder. There seemed nothing I didn't know. Then I ran into Helen. My friendly neighbourhood enemy. There really was nothing like Helen on any world I'd ever been to. I sometimes didn't think she was human at all.

"Oh, what a sweet little doggie!" Mrs Baker cried out. "Is ooh hungwy, then?" She gave Waif the rest of the cake she was eating. Waif took it politely, ate it in one gulp and continued to beg. Mrs Baker gave her a whole cake from the plate. This caused Waif to beg more soulfully than ever. "I'm disgusted," Charmain told Waif.

You wouldn't believe how lonely you get.

So you'll be wanting all these hydrangeas chopped down, then? Whatever for? Charmain said. I like to chop things down, the kobold explained. Chief pleasure of gardening.

Don't you even feel how marvellous it is to have talked to one of the Little People? I said. No, not as the main thing, Grundo grunted. If you think like that, then you're treating him like something in a museum, not as a person.

Tell me of this Wizard Howl of yours. Sophie's teeth chattered, but she said proudly, He's the best wizard in Ingary or anywhere else. If he'd only had time, he would have defeated that djinn. And he's sly and selfish and vain as a peacock and cowardly and you can't pin him down to anything. Indeed? asked Abdullah. Strange that you should speak so proudly such a list of vices, most loving of ladies. What do you mean — vices? Sophie asked angrily. I was just describing Howl.

I had a mitherable childhood. Nobody loved me. I think I have a right to try again, looking pwettier, don't you?

If nothing happened, then there's nothing to remember, she told herself, trying to sound philosophical. Of course there's nowhere to start.