An Author's Odyssey Quotes

“No one ever stops being a student in the classroom of life”
― Chris Colfer, An Author's Odyssey

“Perhaps all writers are nothing more than subconscious explorers, sailing across a sea of other worlds, and you’re just the first to discover ours.”
― Chris Colfer, An Author's Odyssey

“A good man follows his heart, but a wise man follows his heart without ignoring his brain.”
― Chris Colfer, An Author's Odyssey

“You choose to grow from tragedy - and it takes a very strong person to do that”
― Chris Colfer, An Author's Odyssey

“And that’s a polycrab,” Conner said. “It has ten limbs and three tails,” Alex noted. “That’s thirteen appendages – why would you name it a polycrab? Poly means seven.” “Oh,” Conner said. “That explains why I failed that geometry quiz.”
― Chris Colfer, An Author's Odyssey

“Approval is just a shortcut to self-worth, but sometimes we have to find things out on our own. Sometimes if we want something bad enough, we have to inspire ourselves to get it. Sometimes we have to be our own superhero.”
― Chris Colfer, An Author's Odyssey

“You’re a brave little hero, I’ll give you that,” the Snake Lord said. “But there’s a thin line between bravery and stupidity – and I’m afraid you just crossed it.” “And there’s a thin line between bad breath and halitosis,” Bolt said. “I’m afraid you crossed that a while ago.”
― Chris Colfer, An Author's Odyssey

“Does it get better when you're older?"
"It did for me," Connor said.
"How?" Bolt asked.
"Someone lese believed in me," Connor said. "All it took was one person's approval and suddenly I believed in myself, too. It gave me a shield to block out all the doubt and negativity. It made me realize I was just as capable and deserving as the people I compared myself to. But you know what? I was wrong."
"You were?" Bolt asked.
"Totally," Conner said. "I didn't NEED someone else. I had confidence in myself, deep down inside, the whole time. Approval is just a shortcut to self-worth, but sometimes we have to find things out on our own. Sometimes if we want something bad enough, we have to inspire ourselves to get it. Sometimes we have to be our own superhero.”
― Chris Colfer, An Author's Odyssey

“Jack stepped onstage dressed in jeans, sneakers, and a T-shirt.
"I'm the handsome Butterboy," Jack announced. "I'm the queen's soul mate. I just don't know it yet because I'm emotionally immature. Sorry, Conner."
Conner was so embarrassed, he sank into his seat and covered his face with his backpack. Trollbella was sporting a wide grin - this was her favorite part of the show. Red struck a theatrical pose with her hands over her heart.
"Be still my heart, for I am in love!" Red announced.
"Now, Peter!" Trollbella whispered.
Peter soared out from backstage and flew in circles over the audience. The children laughed and clapped - they reached up and tried to touch him. Conner was irritated by how much they were enjoying the show.
"Hello, Butterboy!" Red said to Jack. "Would you like to be my king and rule the trolls and goblins with me? Oh, how happy we will be together!"
"Oh boy, that sounds wonderful!" Jack said. "How lucky I am to be loved by such a beautiful and brilliant troll queen. I will never find someone like her ever again - nope, not once, no how, no way, not going to happen! I want to be with Trollbella for all eternity!"
"I never said that!" Conner shouted from his seat. "She's making this up!”
― Chris Colfer, An Author's Odyssey

“Alex, if you see Bob, tell him I briefly stepped into another dimension with your brother.”
― Chris Colfer, An Author's Odyssey

“Like a phoenix, he immediately began calculating his path out of the ashes.”
― Chris Colfer, An Author's Odyssey

“Alex and Conner looked up and saw a large city-limits sign above them. The sign read:

BIG CITY, USA
POPULATION 7,654,321

Once the handwritten words finished constructing the new dimension, the twins saw that the highway led to an enormous city a couple of miles in the distance. It had the tallest and leanest skyscrapers Alex had ever seen; the skyline looked more lie a bundle of pencils and pens than a row of buildings.
"Big City, USA?" Alex asked. "You couldn't come up with anything more original than that?"
"It was supposed to be a placeholder until I came up with a better name, but Big City, USA, grew on me," Conner said.”
― Chris Colfer, An Author's Odyssey

“Robin Hood and the Merry Men gathered around the mural of Robin Hood. The resemblance between the real Merry Men and the painted Merry Men was striking; however, Robin Hood was depicted very effeminately in the painting. He wore bright green tights and had a short curly bob and no facial hair.
"I DON'T UNDERSTAND," Robin Hood said. "WHAT IS MY MOTHER DOING IN THIS PAINTING?”
― Chris Colfer, An Author's Odyssey

“Love is wonderful, magical, and beautiful, but it can also be maddening, damaging, and dangerous,: she said. "It blinds us more than anything. It makes us selfish, it makes us feel like nothing else matters, and it tricks us into thinking the rest of the world doesn't exist - but it does exist. Whether you're on the high or low side of love, the world always moves on."
"So you're saying love is a weakness?" Arthur asked.
"That depends on you," Mother Goose said. "There's a reason we've got hearts and brains - we're supposed to listen to them both. A good man follows his heart, but a wise man follows his heart without ignoring his brain. Finding the right balance is one of the hardest parts of life.”
― Chris Colfer, An Author's Odyssey

“Although it broke her heart to be away from Butterboy, the distance taught the queen a valuable lesson and a secret to success: When you can't have what you want, make the most out of what you have!”
― Chris Colfer, An Author's Odyssey

“Never go so high you’re afraid to look down:”
― Chris Colfer, An Author's Odyssey

“Explorers are quick to claim the places they find, but they don’t create the land they raise flags on,”
― Chris Colfer, An Author's Odyssey

“For what it's worth, I know how you feel," Conner told him. "I used to doubt myself a lot. When people told me I wasn't good enough, I believed them. It's hard not to when you're young."
"Tell me about it," Bold said. "Does it get better when you're older?"
"It did for me," Conner said.
"How?" Bolt asked.
"Someone else believed in me," Conner said. "All it took was one person's approval and suddenly I believed myself, too. It gave me a shield to block out all the doubt and negativity. It made me realize I was just as capable and deserving as the people I compared myself to. But you know what? I was wrong."
"You were?" Bolt asked.
"Totally," Conner said. "I didn't need someone else. I had confidence in myself, deep down inside, the whole time. Approval is just a shortcut to self-worth, but sometimes we have to find things out on your own. Sometimes if we want something bad enough, we have to inspire ourselves to get it. Sometimes we have to be our own superhero."
Out of everything Conner said, he could tell this resonated with the boy the most. If he wanted to help people, maybe he had to start with himself.
"But what if I fail?" Bolt asked. "What if the Snake Lord wins and I don't save anyone? Then I'll never be a superhero."
"A very wise man once told me that 'courage is what makes a superhero super,'" Conner said. "He never sad anything about succeeding.”
― Chris Colfer, An Author's Odyssey

“Even though she wasn't thrilled they were en route to exterminate bugs, Alex couldn't deny how amazing it was to be gliding between a massive spaceship and the atmosphere of an alien planet.
"I'll have to admit, this is pretty cool," she said.
Conner didn't respond. Alex turned to check on him and saw tears glistening in his eyes. He had seen so many things from his imagination come to life, but seeing an actual planet was surprisingly emotional.
"Are you okay?" she asked.
"I'm fine," Conner said. "Just allergies."
"In space?"
"Yeah, I think there might have been a cat in here before us."
Alex just smiled and didn't press it further. "Well, whatever you're reacting to, thanks for sharing it with me. This is an experience I would never have had without you.”
― Chris Colfer, An Author's Odyssey

“By inspiring someone, you stimulate that person’s creativity; and when someone is gifted with creativity, he or she inherently holds the source of progress and prosperity. Creativity is the simple but powerful ability to make something from nothing, and it just so happens that making something from nothing is also the definition of magic. Become a storyteller and help us keep fairy tales alive. Even if people don’t believe in it, never let the world forget what magic represents. Wherever there is a storyteller, there will always be hope. Thank you, and may you all have a happily-ever-after! With love, The Fairy Godmother”
― Chris Colfer, An Author's Odyssey

“The twins ran as fast as their legs could carry them. The Blissworm held on to Conner’s helmet like a jockey clutching the reins of a racehorse. It even slapped Conner’s bottom as if that would make him run faster. “Cut it out!” he said. “That hurts!”
― Chris Colfer, An Author's Odyssey

“It takes courage to face a giant, but it takes a true hero to stand up to the world.”
― Chris Colfer, An Author's Odyssey

“Goldie?" Jack asked. "What is it?"
"Jack, my water just broke," Goldilocks said. "I'm going into labor!"
All the characters glanced at one another in panic. This was such an anticipated moment, but no one was prepared for it. They were characters from children's stories - none of them knew how to deliver a baby!
"Quick! We need scissors, boiling water, and recycled paper!" Red shouted. "Or is that for papier-mâché?"
Trollbella covered her eyes. "Keep it inside while I'm in the room!" she said. "I don't want to see a baby come out of you.!"
"CALL THE MIDWIFE AND WET NURSE!" Robin Hood yelled. "BUT DON'T TELL THEM I SENT YOU!”
― Chris Colfer, An Author's Odyssey

“Many centuries ago, I discovered your world by accident. After a long and wonderful career of helping people (like Cinderella) achieve their dreams, I was only eager to do more. So one day I closed my eyes, waved my magic wand, and said, “I wish to go someplace where people need me the most.” When I opened my eyes, I was no longer in the Land of Stories. When I first arrived, your world was enduring a time known as the Dark Ages, and there couldn’t be a better description. It was a period consumed with poverty, plague, and war. People were suffering and starving, and they were very doubtful that conditions would get any better.”
― Chris Colfer, An Author's Odyssey

“INTRODUCTION A NOTE TO ALL STORYTELLERS  Imagine a world with magic. Now imagine this place is home to everything and everyone you were told wasn’t “real.” Imagine it has fairies and witches, mermaids and unicorns, giants and dragons, and trolls and goblins. Imagine they live in places like enchanted forests, gingerbread houses, underwater kingdoms, or castles in the sky. Personally, I know such a place exists because it’s where I’m from. This magical world is not as distant as you think. In fact, you’ve been there many times before. You travel there whenever you hear the words “Once upon a time.” It’s another realm, where all your favorite fairy-tale and nursery-rhyme characters live. In your world, we call it the Land of Stories.”
― Chris Colfer, An Author's Odyssey

“As teachers we must not guide our students to be the people we wish them to be but elevate them to become the people they were meant to be. Remember the encouragement we give our students may be the only encouragement they ever receive so don't use it sparingly.”
― Chris Colfer, An Author's Odyssey

“Young love,” she said. “It doesn’t matter how old you get, you always remember it. You spend five minutes with someone and suddenly you never want to spend a moment apart. They become your sole focus and make you happier, more excited, and more inspired than anything before. They become your armor and give you strength and bravery and make you feel unstoppable. Life doesn’t seem so bad now that you have someone to share it with.”
― Chris Colfer, An Author's Odyssey

“She had the heart of a turkey, the determination of a duck, and the bravery of a goose.”
― Chris Colfer, An Author's Odyssey

“Charlotte,” Bob said quietly, in shock. “There’s a pirate ship in our pool.…”
― Chris Colfer, An Author's Odyssey

“Happily ever after isn't a finish line. It isn't a paradise, and it isn't a phenomenon that makes all your dreams come true. Happily ever after is about finding happiness within yourself and holding on to it through any storm that comes your way.”
― Chris Colfer, An Author's Odyssey