It was very boring. Perhaps it was his job to be boring, Vivian thought, in which case he was very good at his job. - Diana Wynne Jones

Things we are accustomed to regard as myth or fairy story are very much present in people’s lives. Nice people behave like wicked stepmothers. Every day.

"One person ought to treat another person properly, even if the person's himself." "What a strange idea!" Mordion said.

"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.