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. - Diana Wynne Jones

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.

What you do is find your centre - can you do that? My navel, you mean? I said. No, no! he howled. You're not a woman! Or are you?

I never said my wishes were supposed to do anyone any good, said the genie. In fact, I swore that they would always do as much harm as possible.