Wintersmith (Discworld, #35)

by Terry Pratchett

‘This I choose to do. If there is a price, this I choose to pay. If it is my death, then I choose to die. Where this takes me, there I choose to go. I choose. This I choose to do.’

All this hasn’t happened yet. It might not happen at all. The future is always a bit wobbly. Any little thing, like the fall of a snowflake or the dropping of the wrong kind of spoon, can send it spinning off along a new path. Or perhaps not.

Romancin’ is verrae important, ye ken. Basically it’s a way the boy can get close to the girl wi’oot her attackin’ him and scratchin’ his eyes oot.’

Yes, well … what? the Third Thoughts persisted. They were getting on Tiffany’s nerves. Your own brain ought to have the decency to be on your side!

Hexperiment: to use magic just to see what happens.

People wanted the world to be a story, because stories had to sound right and they had to make sense. People wanted the world to make sense.

To smell the trees! To feel the pull of the ground! To be solid! To feel the darkness behind your eyes and know it was you! To be – and know yourself to be – a man!