The Hemlock Queen Quotes

“Through darkness, light is brightened. Through light, shadows deepen. One may not exist without the other. They must rise together, equals once again, and never be parted.”
― Hannah F. Whitten, The Hemlock Queen

“It was remarkably, horribly easy to make people accept terrible things if you made them part of the normal landscape. If you designed the world around them so they didn’t stick out. People were easy to dupe into thinking that powerful meant benevolent, especially when they had no way out, no recourse but to live beneath something unfair. Reduce their sense of choice—make it seem like they could accept what was, or have nothing—and they’d fall in line. Because sometimes, finding another way felt impossible.”
― Hannah F. Whitten, The Hemlock Queen

“That's half of what love is, mouse," she murmured. "Learning to live with fear. Deciding it's worth it.”
― Hannah Whitten, The Hemlock Queen

“True power whispers rather than shouts.”
― Hannah Whitten, The Hemlock Queen

“That was typical for her, these days. Not having the energy to fight about things.”
― Hannah F. Whitten, The Hemlock Queen

“There were many things Lore didn’t feel like doing today. Getting up early. Choking down breakfast. Her head felt like it was inhabited by a thousand tiny men with hammers, courtesy of the wine she’d downed before bed to make sure she didn’t dream. The combination of ache and dry, sour mouth made even the most delicate pastries taste like something from a refuse pile. Getting dressed also wasn’t high up on her list of things she wanted to do, and she’d let Juliette, her lady’s maid, stuff her into a pale-peach gown that really did nothing for her coloring because she didn’t have the energy to fight about it. That was typical for her, these days. Not having the energy to fight about things.”
― Hannah F. Whitten, The Hemlock Queen

“Endings take their time.”
― Hannah F. Whitten, The Hemlock Queen

“Protection was just control, in the end. A leash held by a benevolent hand was still a leash.”
― Hannah Whitten, The Hemlock Queen

“Don't hold things that aren't yours.”
― Hannah Whitten, The Hemlock Queen

“What was left, when your faith burned up? Did it leave the kind of ash that could encourage new growth, or only wasteland?”
― Hannah Whitten, The Hemlock Queen

“Caution isn't fear.”
― Hannah Whitten, The Hemlock Queen

“Hemlock queen," Amelia scoffed. "Such a fierce name for someone ruled by fear. Who damned the world because she was afraid.”
― Hannah Whitten, The Hemlock Queen

“The night blanketed things and blunted the sharper corners. Now, in the light, everything could cut.”
― Hannah Whitten, The Hemlock Queen

“Because you are my deathwitch, Lore. The highest office in the court."
"An office you made up."
"And made the highest.”
― Hannah Whitten, The Hemlock Queen

“I don’t want you to get hurt,” Lore whispered, tears burning at the backs of her eyes. Mari gently pushed her hair behind her ear. “That’s half of what love is, mouse,” she murmured. “Learning to live with fear. Deciding it’s worth it.”
― Hannah F. Whitten, The Hemlock Queen

“What was left, when your faith burned up? Did it leave the kind of ash that could encourage new growth, or only wasteland?”
― Hannah F. Whitten, The Hemlock Queen

“They held the reins of the world, but didn't know how to ride.”
― Hannah Whitten, The Hemlock Queen