Finnikin of the Rock Quotes

“Be prepared for the worst, my love, for it lives next door to the best.”
― Melina Marchetta, Finnikin of the Rock

“Because without our language, we have lost ourselves. Who are we without our words?”
― Melina Marchetta, Finnikin of the Rock

“Sir Topher finally looked up. “Because any hope beyond that, my boy, would be too much. I feared we would drown in it.”
"Then I choose to drown,” Finnikin said. “In hope. Rather than float into nothing.”
― Melina Marchetta, Finnikin of the Rock

“This hand says you spend the rest of your life with me," he said, holding out his left hand, "and this one says I spend the rest of my life with you. Choose."

She bit her lip, tears welling in her eyes. She took both of his hands in hers and he shuddered. "I will die protecting you," he says.

There was a look of dismay on her face. "Just like a man of this kingdom, Finnikin. Talking of death, yours or mine, is not a good way to begin a-"

Isaboe gave a small gasp when he leaned forward, his lips an inch away from hers. "I will die for you," he whispered.

She cupped his face in her hands. "But promise me you'll live first. Because nothing we are about to do is going to be easy and I need you by my side.”
― Melina Marchetta, Finnikin of the Rock

“There are worse things than a lie and there are better things than the truth!”
― Melina Marchetta, Finnikin of the Rock

“Never underestimate the value of knowing another's language. It can be far more powerful than swords and arrows.”
― Melina Marchetta, Finnikin of the Rock

“Somehow, even in the worst of times, the tiniest fragments of good survive. It was the grip in which one held those fragments that counted.”
― Melina Marchetta, Finnikin of the Rock

“It’s against the rules of humanity to believe there is nothing we can do.”
― Melina Marchetta, Finnikin of the Rock

“When one is silent, those around speak even more.”
― Melina Marchetta, Finnikin of the Rock

“Tell me about the farm," she pleaded as drops of blood began to appear on her hand.
"The farm?"
"The farm that Finnikin the peasant would have lived on with his bride."
"Evanjalin. That was her name. Did I mention that?"
She laughed through a sob. "No, you didn't."
"They would plant rows upon rows of wheat and barley, and each night they would sit under the stars to admire what they owned. Oh, and they would argue. She believes the money made would be better spent on a horse, and he believes they need a new barn. But then later they would forget all their anger and he would hold her fiercely and never let her go."
"And he'd place marigolds in her hair?" she asked.
He clasped her hands against his and watched her blood seep through the lines of his skin. "And he would love her until the day he died," he said.”
― Melina Marchetta, Finnikin of the Rock

“Finn, listen!" Trevanion said, his voice raw. "I prayed to see you one more time. It's all I prayed for. Nothing more. And my prayers were answered. Go east, I'll lead them west."

"We have a dilemma, then," Finnikin said fiercely. "Because I prayed that you would grow old and hold my children in your arms as you held me. My prayers have not been answered yet, Trevanion. So whose prayer is more worthy? Yours or mine?”
― Melina Marchetta , Finnikin of the Rock

“Do you think you should warn him (the guard) that I'm going to kiss you?"
He loved the flush that appeared on her face, and there was an intake of breath from the girls.
"Aldron," she said clearing her throat,"if he agrees to become king, I'm going to let him kiss me. Please don't stop him."
Aldron thought for a moment and sighed, holding up his hand. "Wait there and do not move," he ordered Finnikin, before calling out to one of the other guards who stood on the platform. "Ask Perri if he's allowed to touch her if he's agreed to be king.”
― Melina Marchetta, Finnikin of the Rock

“Balthazar pledged to die defending his royal house of Lumuatere. Finnikin swore to be their protector and guide for as long as he lived. Lucian vowed he would be the light whom they traveled toward in times of need.”
― Melina Marchetta, Finnikin of the Rock

“Then I choose to drown. In hope. Rather than float into nothing.”
― Melina Marchetta, Finnikin of the Rock

“The gods do make playthings of us ... but it is we mortals who provide them with the tools.”
― Melina Marchetta, Finnikin of the Rock

“Everything is evil that humans can't control or conquer”
― Melina Marchetta, Finnikin of the Rock

“You list the dead. You tell the stories of the past. You write about the catastrophes and the massacres. What about the living, Finnikin? Who honors them?”
― Melina Marchetta, Finnikin of the Rock

“I would pick them when they bloomed. And when she called me home for supper, I'd place them in her hair and the contrast would take my breath away.”
― Melina Marchetta, Finnikin of the Rock

“And when Finnikin grabbed her to him and buried his face in her neck and then bent down and placed his mouth on hers, the others pretended that there was something very interesting happening in the meadow. The priest-king even pointed at the nothing they were pretending to see. But Froi didn’t. He just watched the way Finnikin’s hands rested on Evanjalin’s neck and he rubbed his thumb along her jaw and the way his tongue seemed to disappear inside her mouth as if he needed a part of her to breathe himself. And Froi wondered what Evanjalin was saying against Finnikin’s lips when they stopped because whatever the words were it made them start all over again and this time their hunger for each other was so frightening to watch that it made Froi look away.”
― Melina Marchetta, Finnikin of the Rock

“A blind man can see what she feels for you and you for her. Your souls are not merely entwined; they are fused.”
― Melina Marchetta, Finnikin of the Rock

“And it was this image that was stamped on the hearts and minds of all who were present that day. Of Froi of the Exiles holding the future of Lumatere in his hands.”
― Melina Marchetta, Finnikin of the Rock

“I do not believe that the desires of young boys cause catastrophic events. The actions of humans do.”
― Melina Marchetta, Finnikin of the Rock

“You grab at any sign of hope. You grab it with both hands and breathe life into it, day after day. You do anything to keep it alive.”
― Melina Marchetta, Finnikin of the Rock

“He hesitated, remembering something Finnikin had said to him on their journey. That somehow, even in the worst of times, the tiniest fragments of good survive. It was the grip in which one held those fragments that counted.”
― Melina Marchetta, Finnikin of the Rock

“He knows no other way but ugliness,” Sir Topher said quietly. “He was taught no other lessons but those of force. His teachers have been scum who live by their own rules. No one has ever taught him otherwise.”
“Am I to forgive?” she said, her voice shaking with anger.
“No,” he said sadly. “Pity him. Or give him new rules. Or put him down like a wild animal before he becomes a monster who destroys everything he encounters.”
― Melina Marchetta, Finnikin of the Rock

“If there was one weapon he had against these savages, it was not acknowledging their existence.”
― Melina Marchetta, Finnikin of the Rock

“Those full of fear were the most dangerous of people.”
― Melina Marchetta, Finnikin of the Rock

“His seed will issue kings, but he will never reign

For she would be Queen of Lumatere.

But he would be king to her.”
― Melina Marchetta, Finnikin of the Rock

“See them together and you will feel a force that will take your breath away.”
― Melina Marchetta, Finnikin of the Rock

“All right, silent dark bear with angry frown, tell me more about your land.”

He settled back down, picturing it. “I would tend to our land from the moment the sun rose to when it set and then you ...she would tend to me.”

He laughed at her expression again. The world of exile camps and the Valley felt very far away, and he wanted to lie there forever.

“Let me tell you about your bride,” she said, propping herself up on her elbows.

“Both of you would cultivate the land. You would hold the plow, and she would walk alongside you with the ox, coaxing and singing it forward. A stick in her hand, of course, for she would need to keep both the ox and you in line.”

“What would we...that is, my bride and I, grow?”

“Wheat and barley.”
“And marigolds.”
Her nose crinkled questioningly.

“I would pick them when they bloomed,” he said. “And when she called me home for supper, I’d place them in her hair and the contrast would take my breath away.”

“How would she call you? From your cottage? Would she bellow, ‘Finnikin!’?”

“I’d teach her the whistle. One for day and one for night.”

“Ah, the whistle, of course. I’d forgotten the whistle.”
― Melina Marchetta, Finnikin of the Rock