A Half-Built Garden Quotes

“If you can’t ask questions, you can’t learn,”
― Ruthanna Emrys, A Half-Built Garden

“On Earth, people like her had never given in—only died and made way for those more willing to listen,”
― Ruthanna Emrys, A Half-Built Garden

“I wish you could see our fireworks,” said Glycine. “They’re spectacular, big enough to watch from dozens of habitats at once.” Dinar laughed. “Beautiful explosions must be a universal art form.” Rhamnetin shrugged, bobbing on his chairs. “Fire is the first step toward technology. Who wouldn’t make art with it?”
― Ruthanna Emrys, A Half-Built Garden

“So how does the United States of America relate to the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Network?” Rhamnetin asked. Right. Awkward questions. Bakkalian smiled sweetly and said, “Technically, this is U.S. territory. A national park. We’re sorry we didn’t get here earlier to welcome you properly.” “The Chesapeake doesn’t claim specific territory,” I said. “We claim our actions. We take care of everything in the watershed, every place where the river acts.”
― Ruthanna Emrys, A Half-Built Garden

“But risk aversion isn’t a strong enough value to live on.”
― Ruthanna Emrys, A Half-Built Garden

“We should tell them that no matter what you do to us, we survive. And we remember who we are.”
― Ruthanna Emrys, A Half-Built Garden

“I couldn’t shake the simple pleasure of getting to know a set of new, interesting people.”
― Ruthanna Emrys, A Half-Built Garden

“We all try to give gifts to the future.... It doesn't mean they'll use them the way we envision, or even in ways we'd approve of. You have to give gifts lightly-that's one of my values. ... Because my parents loved what I was more than they loved their guess about what I'd be ... they were willing to let me use it in a way they didn't expect.”
― Ruthanna Emrys, A Half-Built Garden

“All post-industrial technologies are potential extinction events in waiting.”
― Ruthanna Emrys, A Half-Built Garden

“I swear, their idea of a fun party is challenging everyone to a duel by dawn.”
― Ruthanna Emrys, A Half-Built Garden

“In a crisis, we still look for the big ape.”
― Ruthanna Emrys, A Half-Built Garden

“All postindustrial technologies are potential extinction events in waiting.”
― Ruthanna Emrys, A Half-Built Garden

“I trust you to do what you think is right. That’s how I trust most people.”
― Ruthanna Emrys, A Half-Built Garden

“Worlds aren’t meant to support technological species.”
― Ruthanna Emrys, A Half-Built Garden

“Rhamnetin shrugged, bobbing on his chairs. “Fire is the first step toward technology. Who wouldn’t make art with it?”
― Ruthanna Emrys, A Half-Built Garden

“Our destiny is in the stars, even if we have to launch from the ashes of a world.”
― Ruthanna Emrys, A Half-Built Garden

“Techies are the same everywhere,” she said. “Swear a hole straight through you if you catch them in the middle of a bug.”
― Ruthanna Emrys, A Half-Built Garden

“They're nothing but dangerous questions.”
― Ruthanna Emrys, A Half-Built Garden

“Images from century-old films adorned the rest of the room, long-haired actors locked in denim-and-sequin embraces.”
― Ruthanna Emrys, A Half-Built Garden