The Secret Chapter Quotes

“Stories matter - telling them, sharing them, preserving them, changing them, learning from them, and escaping with and through them. We learn about ourselves and the world that we live in through fiction just as much as through facts. Empathy, perception and understanding are never wasted. All libraries are a gateway into other worlds, including the past - and the future.”
― Genevieve Cogman, The Secret Chapter

“They did attempt to leave the European Union last year, but apparently that was prompted by demonic interference. A lot of politicians were subsequently tried for treason and beheaded at the Tower of London.”
― Genevieve Cogman, The Secret Chapter

“The word, Irene, is stealing."

"Oh, semantics. 'I acquire, 'you borrow,' 'she steals,' 'they invade and loot . . .”
― Genevieve Cogman, The Secret Chapter

“Life was much easier before I had to worry about everyone else worrying,’ Irene muttered. ‘It’s called growing up, dear. It comes with staying alive.”
― Genevieve Cogman, The Secret Chapter

“ * We note that the Library has not had fire alarm drills for the last two hundred years. This is because we found the two default responses unhelpful. These being "running away screaming" or "resigning yourself to death while clutching your favourite books." Librarians with more useful suggestions should contact Yves via email and attach a full benefit-threat analysis. ”
― Genevieve Cogman, The Secret Chapter

“Mother, please, hear me out. If there’s something I’ve learned over the last few years, it’s that everything people do is important. I happen to have chosen this particular thing to do with my life, and I was lucky enough to have the choice.”
― Genevieve Cogman, The Secret Chapter

“Very strongly tied to Europe, which is why CENSOR has an English name and acronym. It did attempt to leave the European Union last year, but apparently that was prompted by demonic interference. A lot of politicians were subsequently tried for treason and beheaded at the Tower of London.”
― Genevieve Cogman, The Secret Chapter

“That instead of running directly back to your assigned world and your work – and your prince – you’re staying in the Library for long enough to have coffee. And not just a cup, but a whole pot. Has it been a bad few days?”
― Genevieve Cogman, The Secret Chapter

“The United Kingdom?’ ‘Very strongly tied to Europe, which is why CENSOR has an English name and acronym. It did attempt to leave the European Union last year, but apparently that was prompted by demonic interference. A lot of politicians were subsequently tried for treason and beheaded at the Tower of London.”
― Genevieve Cogman, The Secret Chapter

“She wasn’t quite at the point of stepping out onto the motorway to play with the oncoming traffic, but it was close.”
― Genevieve Cogman, The Secret Chapter

“There is no such thing as genuine truth, only received truth.”
― Genevieve Cogman, The Secret Chapter

“ When the opponent completely controls the chessboard and things can't get worse for you, sometimes the answer is to make it worse for everyone . . . ”
― Genevieve Cogman, The Secret Chapter

“All libraries are a gateway into other worlds, including the past—and the future.”
― Genevieve Cogman, The Secret Chapter

“Stories matter – telling them, sharing them, preserving them, changing them, learning from them, and escaping with and through them. We learn about ourselves and the world that we live in through fiction just as much as through facts. Empathy, perception and understanding are never wasted. All libraries are a gateway into other worlds, including the past – and the future.”
― Genevieve Cogman, The Secret Chapter

“students in jeans and duffel coats to people in evening wear. Hot dog stands made no class distinctions”
― Genevieve Cogman, The Secret Chapter

“Be careful. Be diplomatic. Try not to blow anything up.”
― Genevieve Cogman, The Secret Chapter

“the Library has not had fire alarm drills for the last two hundred years. This is because we found the two default responses unhelpful. These being “running away screaming” or “resigning yourself to death while clutching your favourite books.”
― Genevieve Cogman, The Secret Chapter

“Kai! There’s been a palace revolution and the peasants are attacking!” Kai gave a deep shuddering sigh and finally opened his eyes properly. “Execute them all in the public square,” he mumbled, clearly still half-asleep.”
― Genevieve Cogman, The Secret Chapter

“do enjoy it when you get optimistically fatalistic,”
― Genevieve Cogman, The Secret Chapter

“There is no such thing as genuine truth, only received truth. The winners write the history books in all cultures, as it serves their advantage. Parents tell their children the stories which paint them as heroes. Enlightened self-interest is the best that anyone can hope for.”
― Genevieve Cogman, The Secret Chapter

“The definition of elitist, as I understand it, is that those who are superior should hold power. I'm a reasonable person. Show me humans who are as competent or intelligent as dragons, and I'll bring them into government as well.”
― Genevieve Cogman, The Secret Chapter

“A or Alpha worlds were aspected towards technology, with little to no magic. Beta worlds had magic as the norm -- with any technology being pretty unimportant. Gamma worlds had both.”
― Genevieve Cogman, The Secret Chapter