Jane Yolen Quotes

“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.

She filled the pot, got out a new filter, threw the old one onto the garbage, and counted out five tablespoons of Columbian Supreme. Then she waited while the magic of modern invention turned tap water into a hot dark-brown caffeine-powered drink. It was better than any Biblical miracle and risked no beliefs.

Princesses did not make scenes. One needed to be a queen to do that.

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.

We had more church after supper, with a long sermon from Reverend Beelson. He talked about wars and earthquakes and floods as signs that the End was coming. Which made me wonder if he had somehow managed to not notice that wars, earthquakes, and floods have been going on since the beginning of history.
But I didn’t say anything.
It wasn’t worth the effort.

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

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.

I'll drive. You navigate." He grinned. "I judge people by how well they read maps.

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

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.

She hated to lie but she hated arguments even more.

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

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.

Madness also makes folks uneasy; they fear contagion.

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.