Samuel Hayes > Samuel's Quotes

“Fantasy is escapist, and that is its glory. If a soldier is imprisioned by the enemy, don't we consider it his duty to escape?. . .If we value the freedom of mind and soul, if we're partisans of liberty, then it's our plain duty to escape, and to take as many people with us as we can!”
― J.R.R. Tolkien

“All stories are true. But some of them never happened.”
― James A. Owen, The Search for the Red Dragon

“I'm a conundrum. Or an enigma. I forget which.”
― James A. Owen, The Shadow Dragons

“If I can't joke about imminent death, then I might as well just resign.”
― James A. Owen, The Search for the Red Dragon

“Don't ascribe to evil what can be attributed to well-intentioned stupidity.”
― James A. Owen, The Shadow Dragons

“The Cavelries hear and their short and furrie”
― James A. Owen, The Search for the Red Dragon

“Jack," said Charles, "he's making up words again."

"Yes," Jack replied, "but he's getting better at it, don't you think?”
― James A. Owen, The Search for the Red Dragon

“Half there, and half not," Grimalkin said, having suddenly appeared over Burton's shoulder. "Sounds implausible to me.”
― James A. Owen, The Dragon's Apprentice

“Simple,' Tummeler replied.' Blueberries is one of the great forces o'good in the world.'

How do you figure that?' said Charles.

Well,' said Tummeler, 'have you ever seen a troll, or a Wendigo, or,' he shuddered, 'a Shadow-Born ever eating a blueberry pie?'

No,' Charles admitted.

There y'go,' said Tummeler. It's cause they can't stand the goodness in it.'

Can't argue with you there,' said Charles.

Foods is good and evil, just like people, or badgers, or even scowlers.'

Evil food?' said Charles.

Parsnips,' said Tummeler, 'Them's as evil as they come.”
― James A. Owen, Here, There Be Dragons

“I think that nonexistent mythological creature just broke some of your toes," Jack said.
Oh, shut up," said Charles”
― James A. Owen, Here, There Be Dragons

“said Jack matter-of-factly. "I'm a man. We're made to think more quickly."

...Aven swung her fist and clocked Jack square on the chin, knocking him backward into the balloon, which was still under repair.

...Aven rubbed her knuckles and looked at the others. "Sorry about that. I might have stopped myself from hitting him, but I didn't think of it quickly enough.”
― James A. Owen

“Power, true power, comes from the belief in true things, and the willingness to stand behind that belief, even if the universe itself conspires to thwart your plans. Chaos may settle; flames may die;
worlds may rise and fall. But true things will remain so, and will never fail to guide you to your goals.”
― James A. Owen, Here, There Be Dragons

“Not many people can lay claim to having broken Time, and we did it purely by accident.”
― James A. Owen, The Search for the Red Dragon

“That isn't a desperate act. That's a PLAN.”
― James A. Owen, The Search for the Red Dragon

“Just because I'm a murdering, thieving, cowardly, traitorous sort doesn't mean I can't do my job properly.”
― James A. Owen, The Search for the Red Dragon

“Astraeus,' Aven called out. 'God of the four winds and friend to sailors. Say a little prayer when you look at him, so he will give us what we need to keep our course.'

A little prayer?' said Jack. 'To a constellation?'

To what it represents,' said Aven.

But I don't believe in what it represents,' said Jack.

Prayers aren't for the deity,' said Aven. 'They're for you, to recommit yourself to what you believe.'

Can't you do that without praying to a dead Greek god?'

Sure,' said Aven. 'But how often would anyone do that, if not in prayer?”
― James A. Owen, Here, There Be Dragons

“You're a very odd man," said Bert.

"I get that more often than you'd think," replied Charles.”
― James A. Owen, The Search for the Red Dragon

“Interesting doesn't always equal practical, but being practical is always less interesting.”
― James A. Owen, The Shadow Dragons

“Discipline, Norah. If you're going to taunt them, remember to stick out your tongue.”
― James A. Owen, The Shadow Dragons

“Like all the other arrivals to the tournament, Hank had erected a banner in front. It was a long, tapering pennant with a blue and red circular design in the center and the words GO CUBS! on both sides.
Interesting," said Hugo. "What does it mean?"
It was a gift from Sam," Hank explained as they entered the tent. "He said it used to represent Triumph over Adversity, but now better represents Impossible Quests and Lost Causes."
I think I preferred not knowing that," said Hugo.
Hank grinned. "You're a Sox fan too, hey?”
― James A. Owen, The Indigo King

“It is the world, my boy," he said. "All the World, in ink and blood, vellum and parchment, leather and hide. It is the World, and it is yours to save or lose.”
― James A. Owen, Here, There Be Dragons

“I know,” said Peter. “Perhaps better than anyone. But you can’t stay a child forever. To choose to speak into Echo’s Well is to choose illusion. To choose to avoid the responsibilities of being an adult. The real trick—the real choice—is to keep the best of the child you were, without forgetting when you grow up.
“It is the best of both worlds, Jack. Being a child is to believe in magic everywhere…
“…but even Peter Pan had to grow up one day.”
― James A. Owen, The Search for the Red Dragon

“Our weaknesses are always evident, both to ourselves and others. But our strengths are hidden until we choose to reveal them--and that is when we are truly tested. When all that we have within is exposed, and we may no longer blame our inadequacies for our failure, but must instead depend upon our strengths to succeed ... that is when the measure of a man is taken, my boy.”
― James A. Owen, Here, There Be Dragons

“Good Morning!” said Bilbo, and he meant it. The sun was shining, and the grass was very green. But Gandalf looked at him from under long bushy eyebrows that stuck out further than the brim of his shady hat.
“What do you mean?” he said. “Do you wish me a good morning, or mean that it is a good morning whether I want it or not; or that you feel good this morning; or that it is a morning to be good on?”
― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit, or There and Back Again

“All that is gold does not glitter,
Not all those who wander are lost;
The old that is strong does not wither,
Deep roots are not reached by the frost.

From the ashes a fire shall be woken,
A light from the shadows shall spring;
Renewed shall be blade that was broken,
The crownless again shall be king.”
― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring

“I wish it need not have happened in my time," said Frodo.
"So do I," said Gandalf, "and so do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.”
― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring

“I don't know half of you half as well as I should like; and I like less than half of you half as well as you deserve.”
― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring

“Never laugh at live dragons.”
― J.R.R. Tolkien

“Faithless is he that says farewell when the road darkens.”
― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring

“The world is indeed full of peril, and in it there are many dark places; but still there is much that is fair, and though in all lands love is now mingled with grief, it grows perhaps the greater.”
― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring