Jane Yolen Quotes

I actually said a little prayer of my own then, my first since we had arrived: Please, God—get me out of this nuthouse!

Will you write the story?"
"If there is one."
"Happy ending or no?" He was serious.
She attempted a smile. "Fairy tales always have a happy ending."
He leaned back in his chair. "That depends."
"On what?"
"On whether you are Rumplestiltskin or the Queen.

Fifteen years can be a long or a short time, depending upon whether one is immortal or not.

Wars may make heroes of men, but not all the time.

We are all sleeping princesses some time. But it is better to be fully awake, don't you think?"..."Americans do not want to be awake?"
"Oh," Becca said, "we like the truth all right. When it's tidy."
"Truth is never tidy. Only fairy tales.

Know, my son, that the enemy will always be with you. He will be in the shadow of your dreams and in your living flesh, for he is the other part of yourself.

But you know how it is: As soon as you decide to forget something, your brain comes to the conclusion that it’s the most fascinating thing in the world.

But I scolded myself, That’s magical thinking, Marina. Consider instead what’s real.

Overhead the swallows dipped down to catch bugs rising from the ground. Then they soared back up beyond the barracks. Hannah watched them for a moment, scarcely breathing. It was as if all nature ignored what went on in the camp. There were brilliant sunsets and soft breezes. Around the commandant’s house, bright flowers were teased by the wind. Once she’d seen a fox cross the meadow to disappear into the forest.

She hated to lie but she hated arguments even more.

I took a deep breath. God…I prayed.
And then I realize that I had nothing more to say to him.
Nothing at all.

“No, you cannot…must not…shall not…may not…” to everything that seemed even the slightest bit interesting or exciting or dangerous.
So Waverly did what every child of ten does. He did it all anyway.

It is not crazy to want to know the past. It is only crazy to live there, like so many of the aristocracy.

For what was art, she thought, but the heart and soul made visible.

There is no liar like the one who lies to himself. He has a fool indeed for an audience.