The Library of Legends Quotes

“So many poems about the moon, but what about the stars?" Professor Kang said, breaking into her thoughts. "The moon comes and goes through its cycles but the stars always shine for us, constant and true. We should honor them more.”
― Janie Chang, The Library of Legends

“Maybe it's because legends are truer to our natures than serious literature. Maybe myths and legends reveal more about us than poetry or epic histories.”
― Janie Chang, The Library of Legends

“But she has hope. And therefore persistence," Sparrow said. "The persistence of water, no matter how small a trickle, eventually wears a path through rock. And eternity is more porous than rock.”
― Janie Chang, The Library of Legends

“Myths are the darkest and brightest incarnations of who we are. They slip into our dreams and underpin our reality. Perhaps that's why the gods judged the Library of Legends worthy of special protection.”
― Janie Chang, The Library of Legends

“But it was a beautiful morning. A high wind fanned thin white veils of cloud across a clear, clean blue sky to skim the mountaintops.”
― Janie Chang, The Library of Legends

“When a man lives a life of good deeds, he earns a better life in his next reincarnation," he said, in a rush to explain. "He might be richer or happier in his family life. When he does evil, his next reincarnation punishes him with poorer circumstances. But life after life, the Prince has been reincarnated to much the same status as before. It means he's done nothing good or bad in each life to tip the scales enough either way to merit change. He neither advances nor worsens. It means he's lived a passive existence every single time. How is that even possible?”
― Janie Chang, The Library of Legends

“When the Palace gates close, the gods and guardian spirits will leave your skies. The constellations will shine as before, but they will be just what your scientists say they are, flaming balls of gas and rock. People might continue to pray, but whatever boons or burdens follow will not come from the gods. They will be of your own making.”
― Janie Chang, The Library of Legends

“But tales alter over time, anyway," Sparrow said. "In the marketplace or their own homes, storytellers shape narratives to suit their audience and the times. They add and remove details, even change the moral of the story. Yet each version is authentic.”
― Janie Chang, The Library of Legends

“Disasters were inevitable and China's history was rife with plagues and famine, floods and earthquakes. And there had been so many wars. Wars between petty kings and rival generals, bandit armies and invading hordes. More recently, revolution.”
― Janie Chang, The Library of Legends

“irrationally fearful. She turned her eyes away as”
― Janie Chang, The Library of Legends

“Her devotion required no effort from Shao.”
― Janie Chang, The Library of Legends