The Burning Page Quotes

“I have spent most of my life preferring books to people,’ Irene said sharply. ‘Just because I like a few specific people doesn’t change anything.”
― Genevieve Cogman, The Burning Page

“We also wish to make it absolutely clear that Librarians should not attempt to use the Library to transport dinosaur eggs. And if they do disregard this rule, under no circumstances should they draw official in-world attention while doing so. In fact, we wish to remind all Librarians that they are here to collect books, not dinosaurs. Those Librarians who have problems distinguishing between the two should take a refresher course in Library basics.”
― Genevieve Cogman, The Burning Page

“Kai might be very non-judgemental when it came to personal gender roles, but he was extremely superior when explaining how non-judgemental he was. “I”
― Genevieve Cogman, The Burning Page

“Panic is the last thing we can afford,” Coppelia said. “Panic will have everyone rushing off in different directions to try to ‘save the Library.’ Panic is the antithesis to good organization. Panic is messy. I am against panic on a point of principle.”
― Genevieve Cogman, The Burning Page

“Redefining oneself is something we all have to do ... The only person who could ever set bounds on you should be yourself.”
― Genevieve Cogman, The Burning Page

“The only problem is that it’s difficult to imagine something entirely new. We use the words and definitions of the past to shape our ideas. Something that is genuinely the next evolutionary step is unlikely to resemble anything we can imagine. Even the best books on the subject are limited.” She’d”
― Genevieve Cogman, The Burning Page

“Is anyone up there?" [...] The natural human response was to shout, No! Which said something about humanity.”
― Genevieve Cogman, The Burning Page

“Now, tell me, Ray, why is it that a thing’s always in the last place you look?” “The malice of inanimate objects,” Irene answered.”
― Genevieve Cogman, The Burning Page

“Blind faith is just another word for slavery”
― Genevieve Cogman, The Burning Page

“Panic will have everyone rushing off in different directions to try to ‘save the Library.’ Panic is the antithesis to good organization. Panic is messy. I am against panic on a point of principle.”
― Genevieve Cogman, The Burning Page

“Kostchei looked at her,his eyes liquid ice, and Irene found herself stuttering to a halt and closing her mouth. He had more presence in that glare than some Fae lords she'd faced down. It wasn't psychic powers, as some people would have described them. It was simply alpha teacher, channelled with a side order of extra ice and public humiliation, and it worked far too well.”
― Genevieve Cogman, The Burning Page

“This sense of possibility might not last, of course Nothing ever did. But she wasn’t going to spoil it by looking too far ahead. They were safe in the Library, and the Library would endure.”
― Genevieve Cogman, The Burning Page

“I may take a while to learn from my mistakes, but I get there eventually.”
― Genevieve Cogman, The Burning Page

“Nothing went boom or splat. Irene was still alive and moving freely. She decided to call her mission a total success so far.”
― Genevieve Cogman, The Burning Page

“Common sense argued that she shouldn’t attribute to malice what could perfectly well be explained by stupidity,”
― Genevieve Cogman, The Burning Page

“Sympathy would imply I might even try to help them. Pity is much safer. It can be delivered from on high without getting involved. I pity them.”
― Genevieve Cogman, The Burning Page

“In fact, we wish to remind all Librarians that they are here to collect books, not dinosaurs. Those Librarians who have problems distinguishing between the two should take a refresher course in Library basics.”
― Genevieve Cogman, The Burning Page

“Dead was still dead, whether the killer was exotic, professional, or amateur. Getting killed was incredibly easy. Anyone could do it. Staying safe and alive was much harder.”
― Genevieve Cogman, The Burning Page

“Now she just had to explain everything—well, most things—to the men, and then be off.”
― Genevieve Cogman, The Burning Page

“And aren´t you hitting the spirits a little bit heavily?"
"Who needs a liver?”
― Genevieve Cogman, The Burning Page

“I have spent most of my life preferring books to people,” Irene said sharply. “Just because I like a few specific people doesn’t change anything.”
― Genevieve Cogman, The Burning Page

“Living outside the Library was never safe. Flying sleighs could come out of nowhere and hit you, however careful you were.”
― Genevieve Cogman, The Burning Page

“All her life she had been taught that the Language allowed its users to shape reality.”
― Genevieve Cogman, The Burning Page

“The problem with paranoia was that if you let it rule all your decisions, then you would miss some perfectly good opportunities.”
― Genevieve Cogman, The Burning Page

“That's where both the Fae and the dragons fail......."They are defined either by narrative or reality. They don't go beyond that. The only person who can ever set bounds on you should be yourself.”
― Genevieve Cogman, The Burning Page

“Ay, there’s the rub,”
― Genevieve Cogman, The Burning Page

“What fun, Irene thought grimly through the band of pain pressing on her temple, I now have a whole new standard for how bad things can get. Travel is so educational.”
― Genevieve Cogman, The Burning Page

“People do keep on talking about wanting a war so that their side will win. But ultimately all they really want is for their side to be a bit better off. Nobody wishes for their side to triumph completely.”
― Genevieve Cogman, The Burning Page

“Blind faith is just another word for slavery,”
― Genevieve Cogman, The Burning Page

“The only person who can ever set bounds on you should be yourself.”
― Genevieve Cogman, The Burning Page