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Some sentences have the power to change everything. There are the usual suspects: I love you, I hate you, I’m pregnant, I’m dying, I regret to tell you that this country is at war. But the words with the greatest power to create both havoc and marvels are these: “I need your help.”
From here he could see the faces of the senators. There was true learning there, and a great sweep of understanding. But there was also a love of procedure and resistance to change. There was arrogance etched on some of those mouths.
they do not love. How could they, when they mustn’t fear? Love has fear baked into it.”
“Throw away that skirt. It is a talent, to learn to dress like yourself. Beauty is overrated, but it is not a sin.” She replaced her pincushion on a hook on her belt. “It’s just one of a thousand pieces of possible luck, and you were lucky.”
“Icarus didn’t fly anywhere because Icarus is a metaphor!”
“before you go asking with your but-what face and your no-really eyes, is purest fact.”
“stop expecting life to get easier. It never does; that is not where its goodness lies.
“do not wait for people to be faultless before you allow yourself to adore them. Adore them anyway.
“What about us?” said Mal. “Where should we go?” She picked her nose and inspected the snot on her finger, and ate it. “Mal, that’s disgusting,” said Christopher. “I saw you pick your nose yesterday.” “I didn’t eat it!” “Then you’re just disgusting and wasteful. At least I’m only disgusting.”
Two hundred years ago an explorer came and taught me English. I did not eat him until I had learned all the irregular verbs.”
It’s a concept you humans have always struggled to grasp: that time might run out.”
dryad fruit, like nothing else on Earth. They tasted still-living; fruits with opinions and jokes and laughter in them.
Jacques looked peevish, insofar as dragons are able to look anything.
The only freedom is in absolute power. Without absolute power, you will always be subject to some other man. Freedom is available only to those who are willing to take it by force.”
“Listen. I need you to tell people this; I need you, when you get back, to tell them: the brutality is terrible. And yes: the chaos is very great. But tell them: greater than the world’s chaos are its miracles.”
