The Emperor's Code Quotes

“In our family, you don't get a childhood. We're too busy trying to dominate the world.”
― Gordon Korman, The Emperor's Code

“Oh, no-" They weren't even on the runway, and Jonah's father was already immersed in his BlackBerry. "Remember those 'Live Large with the Wiz Generation' posters? Well, guess how that translates into Chinese- 'Jonah Wizard Makes Your Ancestors Fat'.”
― Gordon Korman, The Emperor's Code

“Why can't you just lie and cheat like the others?" Dan snapped. "Can't you just see that's better than being nice one minute and then turning around and selling us out? It may be very Cahill, but it stinks! Grace had a saying: Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, I'll conk you with this pet carrier!”
― Gordon Korman, The Emperor's Code

“You don't get Billie Joe Armstrong's autograph on your forehead without following your instincts.”
― Gordon Korman, The Emperor's Code

“The Bombyx mori caterpillar," her brother supplied, thinking of snack time at the Shaolin Temple. "It tastes like chicken.”
― Gordon Korman, The Emperor's Code

“During construction, when a worker died, his body was built right into the Wall itself. No one knew how many corpses lay within the stone and mortar, but some estimates ran as high as three million souls.”
― Gordon Korman, The Emperor's Code

“It’s like living your whole life without ever looking in a mirror, Amy thought, and suddenly you see your reflection, and you’re a monster.”
― Gordon Korman, The Emperor's Code

“Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, I’ll conk you with this pet carrier!”
― Gordon Korman, The Emperor's Code

“Vincent Van Gogh”
― Gordon Korman, The Emperor's Code

“He’d spent most of his life thinking of his father as kind of a boob. But here on Mount Everest, Eisenhower Holt was the boob you wanted on your side.”
― Gordon Korman, The Emperor's Code

“Down there, people would be relieved to know they're dead, and - and -' Her voice cracked.
He stuck out his chin, daring her to say it. "And what?"
"And maybe we should be too," Amy blurted.”
― Gordon Korman, The Emperor's Code

“You children have created quite a stir in the hunt."
"Why?" asked Amy. "We've outsmarted a few people, but I don't think we're winning." She paused. "Are we?"
"Perhaps not, but you're younger than the rest of us, with fewer resources, no branch to support you, and almost zero knowledge of our family history. Many predicted you wouldn't last a week. Yet here you are, right in the thick of things.”
― Gordon Korman, The Emperor's Code

“fact, it’s just crazy enough to be the kind of thing that actually happens in your family. A regular hiding place isn’t good enough for you Froot Loops; you have to use Mount Everest!”
― Gordon Korman, The Emperor's Code