You speak of destiny as if it was fixed. - Philip Pullman

"The children will come to no harm."

"Except for the older ones. Like that poor kid down there."

"Mr. Scoresby, that is the way this world works. And if you want to put an end to cruelty and injustice, you must take me farther on. I have a job to do."

"Seems to me — " Lee said, feeling for the words, "seems to me the place you fight cruelty is where you find it, and the place you give help is where you see it needed."

"Who are you?" the woman said at last.

"Lyra Silver — "

"No, where d'you come from? What are you? How do you know things like this?" Wearily Lyra sighed; she had forgotten how roundabout Scholars could be. It was difficult to tell them the truth when a lie would have been so much easier for them to understand.

Why do they do these things to children, Pan? Do they all hate children so much, that they want to tear them apart like this? Why do they do it?