Quote Contexts

All of last week’s Twitter quotes but the last were from Owlflight, by Mercedes Lackey and Larry Dixon.

“Nobody ever asked me what I wanted, not once.” Darian’s thoughts on being apprenticed to Mage Justyn.

“How could anyone let fear blind him to so much of wonder and beauty?” Darian, scorning the villagers for being afraid to venture into the forest.

“Half of being clever is being certain you are not being stupid.” Shin’a’in proverb, a favorite of Snowfire’s.

“There is no arguing with a feeling.” Snowfire is trying to convince Darian that he should not feel guilt over Justyn’s death.

“Put the guilt where it rightly belongs.” Snowfire is arguing that the real guilt should be laid on the leader of the barbarians who attacked Errol’s Grove.

“I wish people would think before they do things like this to children!” Nightwind is furious with the elders of Errol’s Grove because, in her words, “Before he has lived a single day with these people, he has been given the message that they disapprove of him, it is wrong to care deeply about the parents he loved because they don’t deserve it, and he is to be grateful to people whose ways are utterly at odds with his!”

“The worst of slavery, for her, had been the lack of choice.” Sue Ann Bowling, Tourist Trap. Flame’s thoughts on her past slavery, quite different from Timi’s and Amber’s.

Quotes from Andre Norton

The first six quotations are from Three against the Witch World, by Andre Norton.

“If one is content to use a tool, then one shall never know what one can do without it.” Kaththea, arguing that her lack of a witch jewel may not me as much of a handicap as generally thought. 64

“Can you turn your back on all this merely because it suffers from some disease?” Kaththea, arguing that Escore is worth fighting for.

“Not always are light and dark so opposed, one to the other.”  Kaththea, as she prepares to work a magic that is best carried out at sunset. 96

“In due time I would pay for what I had done.” Kyllan, knowing he has weakened his gift by using it to lure a prong-horn to its death that he and his siblings might eat. He pays sooner that he thinks, as he is enthralled by the Keplian early the next morning.

“I cannot hide all thoughts.” Kyllan, about to leave the Lady Dahaun on a mission. He is in love with her and she with him, and they both know it though no explicit word has been spoken.

“They merely supply the impulse, you the actors for carrying it out.” Kemoc to Kyllan as they face the hallucinations of the witches in their rescue of Kaththea.

“There are times when I slap myself on the head and wonder how I could have been so stupid.” Sue Ann  Bowling, Jarn’s Journal. Jarn suddenly realizes that he has the supplies to build a defense against predators.

Quotes from Mercedes Lackey

All of today’s quotes but the last are from Storm Breaking, by Mercedes Lackey.

“When the enemy is “dead” to the world one inhabits, he might as well be dead in totality.” Melles, reluctantly giving up on Tremane’s death.

“History is in the small items as much as the large ones.” Lyam is almost overcome by finding a brush that Urtho himself handled. Modern historians, trying to recreate the life of the past, would probably agree with him.

“One should always begin with friendship, rather than a more ardent emotion.” Sejanes, advising Karal about love.

“Most people don’t believe that a disaster can come, or that it can affect them.” The exact quote, which was a little long for Twitter, was “Most people don’t believe that a disaster is coming, or that it can affect them, even when they’re told repeatedly.” Karal’s side note, as he is talking via teleson with the Council in Haven shortly before the final Storm.

“Keep in mind that a nation is made up of people.” Part of Altra’s response to Karal’s suggestion that all gods should be prayed to for help for all people, even those of the Empire, against the final storm. The full quote is “You manage to keep in mind that a nation is made up of people, most of whom have little or no control over what their leaders do.”

“Life is attention to both the large and the small.” Part of Altra’s lecture to Karal on keeping balance in his life as a priest.

“Part of the fun was to guess who had given each gift.” Sue Ann Bowling, Homecoming. Birthday celebrations on Central involved gifts to the person with a birthday, but the giver’s name had to be guessed.

McCaffrey Quote Contexts

All of this week’s quotes but the last are from books by Anne McCaffrey.

“One had to know the rules before one could break them.” Pegasus in Flight. Something Tirla learned early from one of her mother’s men.

“We can’t do something right without doing something wrong” Pegasus in Flight. Rhyssa to Peter, shortly after he has demonstrated his ability to land a shuttle full of aid workers in impossible weather.

“There’s been no major forward progress in all of human history that has not been accompanied by some problems.” Pegasus in Flight. Rhyssa speaking to Peter, trying to comfort him for inadvertently creating a problem.

“Bureaucracy in its usual obstructive role.” Pegasus in Space. Rhyssa and Dorotea discussing Admiral Coetzer’s problems with the Space Authority.

“I was told that there were no old, bold pilots.” Pegasus in Space. Peter when their on-board computers do not agree on whether they are go for a moon voyage. The usual form, often heard here in Alaska, is “There are old pilots and there are bold pilots, but there are no old, bold pilots.”

“The people who do the work are the last ones to know.” Pegasus in Space. Peter and Johnny, after finding that their telekinetic abilities are explained by quantum mechanics, and saying that this should be one of Murphy’s laws.

“It was hard to trust the judgment of the three youngsters.” Sue Ann Bowling, Homecoming. Derik is beginning to suspect Roi is having more problems in school than he is willing to admit, but getting Roi and his two friends to tell him what’s wrong is a problem.

Quotes from Anne McCaffrey

Anne McCaffrey died last month, at 85. Although she is best known for her Pern books, she wrote a number of other series and genres. All but the last quote this week are from To Ride Pegasus, a book of some of her early shorter works on the Talented. Take them as they are meant: as a tribute to one of the authors who has most influenced me. I don’t have all of her books, but I have most, and plan to quote from more of them on Twitter @sueannbowling.

“You’d see a lot from the back of a winged horse.” From “To Ride Pegasus.” Henry speaking to Molly just after he has come up with the metaphor for paranormal Talents as winged horses.

“It’s human nature to fear — and distrust — what is different.” “A Womanly Talent.” Senator Andres, speaking to Daffyd op Owen about some of the problems involved an a law to protect the Talented in the legitimate use of their Talents.

“You’re too honest to be up against us crook politicians.” Also from “A Womanly Talent.”Senator Andres speaking to Daffyd, later in the same conversation.

“Very few people can stand the whole, complete, unvarnished truth.” This one’s from “A Bridle for Pegasus.” Jerry Frames is arguing with Daffyd and pleading with him to conceal information sometimes.

“Different minds react to different stimuli.” Again, from “A Bridle for Pegasus.” This time Daffyd is speaking to Frank Gillings, the Commissioner of Law Enforcement for the city of Jerhatten.

“When you ride a winged horse, you can’t dismount.” Back to the first story, “To Ride Pegasus” as Molly realizes the height – and the danger – to which her Talent might take her.

“Different … and she was looking for difference.” Sue Ann Bowling, Tourist Trap. Marna is trying to track down the source of the plague on Eversummer, and has just found an anomalous result.

Mercedes Lackey Quotes

All but the last two of these quotes are from Storm Warning, by Mercedes Lackey.

“Friends help friends.” Karal, just as he is preparing to risk his life to prove to An’desha that he can control his mage-gift.

“Leaders are just people, and they frequently forget to think before they act.” Karal, arguing that the whole Empire should not be blamed for the fact that some of its leaders decided to kill his mentor, Ulrich.

“Cats. They always know.” Elspeth, right after Altra the firecat has summed up her dislike of being forced into anything.

“When we have done all we can, then it is time to add prayer to the rest.” One of Ulrich’s sayings that Karal remembers on the way to the Iftel border.

“Understanding is the essence of not making the same mistakes.” Karal to An’desha, when he hears the doubt in An’desha’s voice as he recounts some of the things that Ma’ar did.

“It does not matter what is, when the people are convinced that the very opposite is what should be. Mercedes Lackey, Storm Rising. An’desha, discussing problems of religion with Karal.

“The younger they are, the easier they take to free fall.” Sue Ann Bowling, Homecoming. Derik’s comment after helping with a birthday party for two-year-olds in a free fall gym. (The children at the party have had a wonderful time. Derik and Elyra have had to deal with the parents.)

Mercedes Lackey Quotes

All but the last of the quotes I tweeted this past week from @sueannbowling are from a single book, Storm Warning.

“If you want to make your enemy into something you can hate, you first remove his humanity.” Mercedes Lackey, Storm Warning. Karal can’t remember whether Ulrich or Solaris said that, but he’s having a hard time remembering Heralds aren’t really White Demons.

“You don’t go into a pairing intending to try and change someone to suit you.”  Mercedes Lackey, Storm Warning. Elspeth is trying to explain to An’desha that Firewind’s apparent attempt to seduce Darkwind was only teasing.

“Everything in this world is paid for, in the end.” Mercedes Lackey, Storm Warning. Karal’s thoughts, his first night at Haven.

“It is wise to be remote in the presence of one who conjures demons.” Mercedes Lackey, Storm Warning. A Shin’a’in proverb, quoted by Talia as she tries to explain to Karal that one of the reasons he finds trouble making friends is that people fear him.

“It’s a cliché precisely because it is so often true.” Mercedes Lackey, Storm Warning. Talia again, and this time the cliché is that “the only cure for anything is time.” She’s speaking to Karal about his homesickness.

“Anyone who is more intelligent than the people around him has troubles as a child.” Mercedes Lackey, Storm Warning. An’desha, Karal and Natoli are comparing childhoods.

“Does it matter who he is, then, if you trust him?” Sue Ann Bowling, Tourist Trap. Roi to Marna, on hearing her explanation of Win. Marna’s not sure whether Win is a ghost, her own subconscious, or a guardian angel. (Neither am I.)

Quotes from (mostly) Terry Pratchett

These are the quotes that have been tweeted over the past week from @sueannbowling:

“Positions of power like to keep an eye on one another.” Terry Pratchett, Unseen Academicals. In this case the positions of power are Lord Vetinari and the Unseen University.

“Smart is only a polished version of dumb. Try intelligence.” Terry Pratchett, Unseen Academicals. Nutt is speaking to Trevor Likely.

“You seldom saw a goddess portrayed as ugly.” Terry Pratchett, Unseen Academicals. “This probably had something to do with their ability to strike people down instantly.” Glenda’s thoughts on seeing The Truth’s story about an urn with the alleged early rules of football. (Soccer to us Americans.)

“When you watch people, you forget that people are watching you.” Terry Pratchett, Unseen Academicals. Glenda is too fascinated at the dwarf style show to notice that she and Juliet are being watched.

“If I had my way, silk would be reclassified as a metal.” Terry Pratchett, Unseen Academicals. Madame Sharn at the style show. She is discussing micromail (soft as cloth, better than leather and it doesn’t chafe) and lamenting that the more traditional dwarf will not wear cloth.

“A whole box of chocolates is not depraved.” Terry Pratchett, Unseen Academicals. Madame Sharn is defending herself against Pepe’s accusation that “when she last had some depravity” was Tuesday.

“It all has to fit together. The religion and morality, the economics, the ecology.” Sue Ann Bowling, Tourist Trap. Roi trying to explain to Penny what he has learned about societies.

Don’t forget the drawing.

Mercedes Lackey Quotes

Quotes this week were mostly from Mercedes Lackey: Wind of Fury, the last book of the Mage Winds trilogy, and Storm Warning, the first book of the Mage Storms trilogy.

“A shaman is needed, and not a warrior.” Mercedes Lackey, Winds of Fury. The Avatars are introducing themselves to An’desha.

“Watch. Listen. Learn. And tell us all that you have learned.” Mercedes Lackey, Winds of Fury. The Avatars’ instruction to An’desha.

“Beware what you ask for, lest you receive it.” Mercedes Lackey, Winds of Fury. Shin’a’in proverb, remembered by An’desha as he learns what the Avatars want of him.

“Plans seldom survive the first engagement with the enemy.” Mercedes Lackey, Winds of Fury. A Shin’a’in proverb, quoted by Vanyel’s ghost to the Companion Gwenna.

“Is not there some barbarian curse that wishes your life be interesting?” Mercedes Lackey, Storm Warning. Karal musing on the upsettings of life he has been subject to as he and the sun-priest Ulrich wait to enter Valdamar.

“Emotions don’t respond well to logic.” Mercedes Lackey, Storm Warning. Karal, trying to understand why Valdemar doesn’t look any different from Karse.

“He could not let her die alone.” Sue Ann Bowling, Homecoming. Lai’s thoughts as he first makes contact with Marna.

Fantasy and Science Fiction Quotes

“Identifiable geniuses carved niches for themselves in history.” Poul Anderson, Time Patrolman. Everard reflecting on why the Time Patrol had problems recruiting natives.

“What was legal did not necessarily align with what was actual.” Piers Anthony, Wielding a Red Sword. A reflection on caste, which has been legally abolished in an India with working magic.

“No one is exempt from grief.” Gregory McGuire, Wicked. The Scarecrow agreeing with Dorothy that the Wicket Witch of the East is probably grieving the death of her sister.

“Women drew on the life force; it was they who produced new life.” Jean Auel, Clan of the Cave Bear. Part of the belief system of the Neanderthals, according to this interpretation.

“If it were up to men, there wouldn’t even be weddings.” Katherine Kurtz, St Patrick’s Gargoyle. Comment by the gargoyle Paddy, the gargoyle of St Patrick’s, when Templeton is unhappy about the idea of ordaining female priests. The whole quote is: “Believe me, if it were up to men, there wouldn’t even be weddings. They’d be out gathering the nuts and berries, or whatever it is they do these days, while the woman kept things ticking over at home. But the women want celebrations. They want the big dress, and the flowers, and the music, and the bells and smells, and everybody dressed up in their Sunday-best, including the priest. So all in all, women priests ought to have a better handle on stuff like that, right?”

“Felicity slips quickly by, but affliction walks side by side along our path.” Ernest Bramah, Kai Lung Unrolls His Mat. The mandarin Wong Tsoi has just been fished out of the river by Wen Chung, who was planning to drown himself. Wong Troi uses the proverb above as part of his urging Wong Tsoi to come to his hourse for a meal and dry clothes, after which he can drown himself in comfort if he wishes.

“There was nothing like a good religious conflict to advance the technology of torture.” Sue Ann Bowling, Tourist Trap. Zhaim, gloating over his museum of torture implements.