Trenton Lee Stewart > Quotes

“You must remember, family is often born of blood, but it doesn't depend on blood. Nor is it exclusive of friendship. Family members can be your best friends, you know. And best friends, whether or not they are related to you, can be your family.”
― Trenton Lee Stewart, The Mysterious Benedict Society

“Rules and school are tools for fools! I Don't give two mules for rules.”
― Trenton Lee Stewart, The Mysterious Benedict Society

“Oh, here's a clever one. Do you remember this question from the first test?It reads, 'What wrong with this statement?' And do you know what Constance wrote in reply? She wrote, 'What's wrong with you?”
― Trenton Lee Stewart, The Mysterious Benedict Society

“Children are capable of such open rudeness.”
― Trenton Lee Stewart, The Mysterious Benedict Society

“Every great thinker keeps a journal, you know.”
― Trenton Lee Stewart, The Mysterious Benedict Society

“And please don't call me that."

I didn't call you 'that', I called you George Washington.”
― Trenton Lee Stewart, The Mysterious Benedict Society

“Poor Kate,"said Constance,"she's lost her marbles.”
― Trenton Lee Stewart, The Mysterious Benedict Society

“Why, then, do you think the white player might have done it?"

Reynie considered. He imagined himself moving out his knight only to bring it right back to where it started. Why would he ever do such a thing? At last he said,"Perhaps because he doubted himself.”
― Trenton Lee Stewart, The Mysterious Benedict Society

“The missing aren't missing, they're only departed,
All minds keep all thoughts - so like gold - closely guarded,”
― Trenton Lee Stewart, The Mysterious Benedict Society

“May your adventures bring you closer together, even as they take you far away from home.”
― Trenton Lee Stewart, The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Perilous Journey

“Is this what family is like: the feeling that everyone’s connected, that with one piece missing, the whole thing’s broken?”
― Trenton Lee Stewart, The Mysterious Benedict Society

“Remember, children. For every exit, there is also an entrance. ~ Milligan, The Mysterious Benedict Society”
― Trenton Lee Stewart

“Grow the lawn and mow the lawn
always keep the TV on,
brush your teeth and kill the germs,
poison apples, poison worms.”
― Trenton Lee Stewart, The Mysterious Benedict Society

“Did the men steal the papers?" Reynie asked, fearing her response.
No, because they are fools," Sophie said bitterly. "They demanded to see the papers, and when I did not answer fast enough -- they were very frightening, you see -- they hurt me so that I was not awake. . . . When I opened my eyes they were still trying to find the papers. They did not understand how we organize the library, you see. They were angry and creating a bad mess. . . . The police were coming and the men decided they must leave. I shouted at them as they left: 'It is a free and public library! All you had to do was ask!”
― Trenton Lee Stewart, The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Perilous Journey

“Now listen, we need to be quiet as mice. No, quieter than that. As quiet as...as..."
"Dead mice?" Reynie suggested.
"Perfect," said Kate with an approving nod. "As quiet as dead mice.”
― Trenton Lee Stewart, The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Prisoner's Dilemma

“Daddy, will you take me to the mill, again?”
― Trenton Lee Stewart, The Mysterious Benedict Society

“The gym is always open, except when it's closed.”
― Trenton Lee Stewart

“She was a thin woman in a mustard-yellow suit, with a yellowish complexion, short-cropped rusty red hair, and a stiff posture. She reminded Reynie of a giant walking pencil.”
― Trenton Lee Stewart

“ 'Is that really the best you can say? An average-looking boy? An awful lot of boys are average-looking, S.Q.!' And poor S.Q., he just kept arguing that 'this boy was especially average-looking.' " ~ Kate Wetherall, The Mysterious Benedict Society”
― Trenton Lee Stewart

“Mr. Benedict: "After I woke up and composed myself, however, I realized the flowers must certainly be yours, Constance, to do with as you please. At any rate -- "
Mr.Benedict broke off, for just then Constance jumped to her feet, snatched the bouquet from his desk, and hurled it into the wastebasket with all the force she could muster -- so hard that flower petals flew up out of the wastebasket like tiny pink butterflies. Then placing her hands against the wall to steady herself, she stomped one foot repeatedly into the wastebasket as if trying to put out a fire.
"I see we are of the same opinion," said Mr. Benedict as Constance returned to her seat, and the others congratulated her on her judgment.”
― Trenton Lee Stewart

“Absolutely,' Mr. Benedict replied. 'You must remember, family is often born of blood, but it doesn't depend on blood. Nor is it exclusive of friendship. Family members can be your best friends, you know. And best friends, whether or not they are related to you, can be your family.”
― Trenton Lee Stewart

“The answer to this riddle has a hole in the middle,
And some have been known to fall in it.
In tennis it's nothing, but it can be received,
And sometimes a person may win it.
Though not seen or heard it may be perceived,
Like princes or bees it's in clover.
The answer to this riddle has a hole in the middle,
And without it one cannot start over.”
― Trenton Lee Stewart, The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Prisoner's Dilemma

“You've read half the books in this house? This whole house?"
"Well, approximately half." Sticky said. "To be more accurate, I suppose I've read more like" - his eyes went up as he calculated - "three sevenths? Yes, three sevenths."
"Only three sevenths?" said Kate, pretending to look disappointed. "And here I was prepared to be impressed.”
― Trenton Lee Stewart, The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Prisoner's Dilemma

“I hope you haven't given up on the S.Q.'s of the world, Reynie. As you see, there are a great many sheep in wolves' clothing. If not for S.Q.'s good nature, we'd never have escaped.”
― Trenton Lee Stewart, The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Perilous Journey

“Was it worse for him, Reynie wondered, to have felt loved and then rejected? Or was it worse to have always felt alone?”
― Trenton Lee Stewart, The Mysterious Benedict Society

“Reynie's fce fell. 'It's not funny, Kate.'
For a moment - a fleeting moment - Kate looked desperately sad. 'Well, of course it's not funny, Reynie Muldoon. But what do you want me to do? Cry?”
― Trenton Lee Stewart, The Mysterious Benedict Society

“Listen, just do what you think is right, and we'll support it." ~ Sticky Washington, The Prisoner's Dilemma”
― Trenton Lee Stewart

“Remember the White Knight.”
― Trenton Lee Stewart, The Mysterious Benedict Society

“Everything is as it should be.”
― Trenton Lee Stewart, The Mysterious Benedict Society

“You were brave to do what you did," he said slowly. "And I know you did it out of live for our friends. But if you ever do something like this again, I can promise you that Ten Men and Executives are going to be the least of your worries- do you understand?" His espression was very severe, his jaw was set, and his words were clipped and terse as if spoken with much suppressed anger. Kate burst out laughing. "Milligan," she said, "I'll bet you scare the wits out of bad guys, but as a dad you don't scare anyone very much." "She's right." Constance said. "I can tell you aren't really angry." Milligan frowned and looked at Reynie, but Reynie averted his eyes to avoid disappointing him- for he, too, had been unfazed by Milligan's stern admonition. Only Sticky, furiously polishing his spectacles in the back seat, showed the effect Milligan had hoped for. But Sticky was easily unnerved and could hardly be used as a measure. "Well," Milligan said, his face relaxing. "At least I tried."

"... Speaking of which, the boys weren't actually touching the breifcases in the trunk, I hope?" Wondering how Milligan knew, Kate stuck her head out the office door and gave Reynie and Sticky a warning look. They nodded and tried to close the trunk as quietly as possible. "They aren't now anyway." "Good," Milligan said, picking up his duffel bag. "I'd hate to have to speak sternly to them again. It embarasses me to be so ineffective.”
― Trenton Lee Stewart, The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Perilous Journey

“Good grief! They're going to call us inside soon, and Sticky hasn't even met Madge yet!"
"Who's Madge?" Sticky asked.
"Her Majesty the Queen!”
― Trenton Lee Stewart, The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Perilous Journey

“Milligan! Come and tell us why you're so dreadfully glum!" ~ Constance, The Mysterious Benedict Society”
― Trenton Lee Stewart, The Mysterious Benedict Society

“I can't say for sure, because I have no experience, but -- well, is this what family is like? The feeling that everyone's connected, that with one piece missing the whole thing's broken?”
― Trenton Lee Stewart, The Mysterious Benedict Society

“Au contraire..."
"What?" Constance demanded.
Curtain blinked.
~ The Perilous Journey”
― Trenton Lee Stewart

“They stared out their window at night enough to know where the darkest shadows lay, and it was to the darkest shadows they kept.”
― Trenton Lee Stewart, The Mysterious Benedict Society

“At this, Constance sat down on a rock and covered her face. She seemed smaller than ever now - so small the harbor breeze might catch her up like a scrap of paper and carry her away, carry her into nowhere.”
― Trenton Lee Stewart, The Mysterious Benedict Society

“So what's your team called?" asked Kate, twisting her legs into a pretzel-like configuration, "We're called the Winmates because we're inmates who win." Kate looked back and forth at Reynie and Constance, searching their expression for signs of delight.
"You gave yourselves a name?" asked Constance.
Now it was Kate's turn to be baffled. "You didn't? How can you have a team without a name?”
― Trenton Lee Stewart, The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Prisoner's Dilemma

“I'm an orphan!" Constance cried gleefully. "I'm an orphan!" ~ The Prisoner's Dilemma”
― Trenton Lee Stewart, The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Prisoner's Dilemma

“But you have said it too often, Mr. Benedict!" said Mrs. Perumal in an imperious tone that was quite out of character. "And if you continue in this vein, I'm afraid we'll be compelled to cut our visit short. Surely there are other establishments that would host an entire troup of guests - indefinitely and without reward - and not feel obliged to apologize for it!”
― Trenton Lee Stewart, The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Prisoner's Dilemma

“I've only just arrived, Kate. It may surprise you to learn that you were my top priority.”
― Trenton Lee Stewart, The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Prisoner's Dilemma

“You must remember, family is often born of blood, but it doesn''t depend on blood. Nor is it exclusive of friendship, Family members can be your best friends, you know. And friends, whether or not they are related to you, can be your family" Mr. Benedict (the Mysterious Benedict Society)”
― Trenton Lee Stewart

“You are the smartest children i know. You just don't beleive it.”
― Trenton Lee Stewart, The Mysterious Benedict Society

“Mr. Benedict replied, "You must remember family is often born of blood, but it doesn't depend on blood. Nor is it exclusive of friendship. Family members can be your best friends, you know. And best friends, whether or not they are related to you, can be your family." Page 257.”
― Trenton Lee Stewart, The Mysterious Benedict Society

“schools and rules are tools for fools”
― Trenton Lee Stewart

“You must understand something, George. The world's leaders create catastrophes and resolve them-- all at their own whimsy-- every single day. It is how the world runs. Lacking anything else to believe in, common people need to believe in their leaders' abilities to save them. It's true! Their emotional well-being-- and yes, their fate-- depends on the intelligence and skill of those who manipulate the days' disasters. And it should go without saying that the one who succeeds in taking the reins of leadership-- by whatever means-- is the most intelligent and skillful, and therefore most qualified to lead.”
― Trenton Lee Stewart, The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Prisoner's Dilemma

“One problem with being a leader, is that even among your friends you are alone, for it is you -- and you alone -- to whom the others look for final guidance.”
― Trenton Lee Stewart, The Mysterious Benedict Society

“Remember the White Knight”
― Trenton Lee Stewart, The Mysterious Benedict Society

“... Speaking of which, the boys weren't actually touching the breifcases in the trunk, I hope?" Wondering how Milligan knew, Kate stuck her head out the office door and gave Reynie and Sticky a warning look. They nodded and tried to close the trunk as quietly as possible. "They aren't now anyway." "Good," Milligan said, picking up his duffel bag. "I'd hate to have to speak sternly to them again. It embarasses me to be so ineffective.”
― Trenton Lee Stewart

“Don't thank me,' Mr. Curtain called as the door slid closed. 'Impress me!”
― Trenton Lee Stewart, The Mysterious Benedict Society