The Disappearance of Winter's Daughter Quotes

“Never say never on any endeavor; it sounds like a dare to gods that don't care. If the likes of us prosper, fail or falter; it matters not while they roll with laughter on an alter, at our miserable, sad little lives.”
― Michael J. Sullivan, The Disappearance of Winter's Daughter

“Reason, truth, innocence" --Royce sat back against the wall and folded his arms--"unicorns, pixies, and dragons; you're not that young to believe in such things. How is it that you fancy yourself a resident of a make-believe world."
"I told you. At this point, it's a choice."
"It's not. It's fooling yourself. I can decide between eating fish or pork, but I can only pretend to eat unicorn meat. I can't actually eat a unicorn. The world is the world, and you live in it with open eyes or choose to be blind. It's all the same to me, but don't stand there pretending your right.”
― Michael J. Sullivan, The Disappearance of Winter's Daughter

“Look,' Mercator told her. 'You can talk to a person. You can reason with an individual. Usually. But people, that's another thing altogether. In a group is where they lose their way. Doesn't matter if it's humans, dwarves, or mir, if you put three or more in a room, they'll manufacture stupid like it was spun gold. They're like honeybees that way, except the product is never sweet. Don't listen to them. Listen to me. Don't listen to people, listen to a person.”
― Michael J. Sullivan, The Disappearance of Winter's Daughter

“We’re not in trouble,” Hadrian said. “The truth is, we’ve done nothing wrong.”
Royce closed his eyes and shook his head. “By Mar, the way you think. It’s . . . it’s . . . I honestly don’t know if there’s a word for it. You realize the truth is rarely important, right?”
― Michael J. Sullivan, The Disappearance of Winter's Daughter

“Hadrian had always felt that cats were picky, untrusting things. Being fragile, they had to be. Whenever a cat sat on him, Hadrian felt special, as if the animal approved, and their acceptance was some sort of gift. Makes a body feel worthy of something to have a cat trust you that much.”
― Michael J. Sullivan, The Disappearance of Winter's Daughter

“Reason, truth, innocence." Royce sat back against the wall and folded his arms. "Unicorns, pixies, and dragons. You're not that young to believe in such such things. How is it you fancy yourself a resident of a make believe world?"

"I told you, at this point it's a choice."

"It's not. It's fooling yourself.

"I can decide between eating fish or pork, but I can only pretend to eat unicorn meat. I can't actually eat a unicorn. The world is the world and you live in it with open eyes or choose to be blind. It's all the same to me but don't stand there pretending you're right."

Hadrian grimaced. _There are so many things wrong with that statement. Only Royce could think of a unicorn eating metaphor. Where do thoughts like that bubble up from?_

...

Hadrian had a point of his own. "You always wear black and gray. That's a choice too, and it says a lot about you."

"It says I don't like to be seen at night."

"It says you like to hide. And people who like to hide are usually up to no good. That's a message you declare to everyone you meet, and people receive it as you might expect. Then when others don't trust you; when they avoid you; hurt or arrest you for doing nothing, your worldview is justified.

"So, you're right. You can't eat unicorns in your world because they don't exist. But they do in mine. But they do in mine. Probably because in my world we don't eat them.”
― Michael J. Sullivan, The Disappearance of Winter's Daughter

“Hadrian took the clay pot left on their table and poured tea into his cup until it overflowed. “Every cup is different, but each can only hold so much. Eventually you either stop pouring or make an awful mess. Make a big enough mess and you have to clean up; you have to change.” Hadrian looked at the pool of tea dripping through the slats of the wobbly table. “I made a really big mess, and it wasn’t tea I spilled.” They were both looking at the puddle of tea when the screaming started.”
― Michael J. Sullivan, The Disappearance of Winter's Daughter

“If our pasts aren’t our present, there’s likely a reason.”
― Michael J. Sullivan, The Disappearance of Winter's Daughter

“That’s because the history you know is wrong. History isn’t truth. You’re not too foolish to recognize that, are you?”
― Michael J. Sullivan, The Disappearance of Winter's Daughter

“What a cruel and absurd joke: The more ignorant you realize you are, the smarter you become.”
― Michael J. Sullivan, The Disappearance of Winter's Daughter

“That’s how the world works. People are motivated by money, power, security, and . . . well, that’s pretty much it.”
― Michael J. Sullivan, The Disappearance of Winter's Daughter

“Don’t let the opinions of the ignorant convince you truth is a lie.”
― Michael J. Sullivan, The Disappearance of Winter's Daughter

“Other people’s ignorance is always a moneymaker, remember that.”
― Michael J. Sullivan, The Disappearance of Winter's Daughter

“The young were fountains of energy and vigor, running blind sprints into imagined lands.”
― Michael J. Sullivan, The Disappearance of Winter's Daughter

“Age, she realized with some regret, had diluted her need for perfection.”
― Michael J. Sullivan, The Disappearance of Winter's Daughter

“Crystal glasses lorded over the silver forks and knives, which guarded napkin-covered plates.”
― Michael J. Sullivan, The Disappearance of Winter's Daughter

“Tales of woo and woe.”
― Michael J. Sullivan, The Disappearance of Winter's Daughter

“Time to die, you fat cow!”
― Michael J. Sullivan, The Disappearance of Winter's Daughter