Diana Wynne Jones Quotes

A library is a place full of mouth-watering food for thought.

Howl’s voice was presently heard shouting weakly, “Help me, someone! I’m dying from neglect up here!

Then watch out. I warn you!" "That is very considerate of you," said Chrestomanci. "I like to be warned.

Goats," said Maxwell Hyde, "are a special case. Mad as hatters, all of them.

All these things that crib and cab in your brain, in your imagination, are in fact things that might well in later life drive you insane.

Calcifer," Sophie said, "I shall have to break your contract. Will it kill you?" "It would if anyone else broke it," Calcifer said hoarsely. "That's why I asked you to do it.

Mother Very Easily Made Jam Sandwiches Under No Protest

Learn to drive?" "Never," said Quentin. "My mission in life is to be a passenger.

I'm going up to my room now, where I may die.

And it's a pity too that I've no right to open your letters. I hope you don't get many, or my conscience will give me no peace.

You have no right to make jigsaws of people.

In addition, Master Twinkle seems convinced that someone is denying him a pair of stripey trousers.

SAGE. A wise and Holy man who died a long time ago. No one modern qualifies.

But whoever heard of enchanted bacon anyway?

But I do think that when people say 'a learning curve,' they make a mistake. Learning to me always seems to go in a straight, ignorant line and then, every so often, takes a jump straight upward.

I seem to have excalibured this knife.

Theseus made unscrupulous use of Ariadne (whom he left on an island where Bacchus later found her-I always think that really meant she took to drink, poor girl).

Oh! Polly thought. Why aren't all girls locked up by law the year they turn fifteen? They do such stupid things!

If you must know, I-I had never in my life kissed a young lady, and you are far too beautiful to me to want to get it wrong!

But most dragons seem to have interesting personalities--besides probably having quite good reasons for what they do, if only one could understand them

Nobody can buy a hat without gossiping.

A fickle heart is the only constant in this world

And indeed if you think you're a genius at something, what you achieve is very much according to your expectations; if you think you're no good, you're not going to get anywhere.

I’m beginning to think I’ve led a much too sheltered life.

He scarcely saw his parents. When Christopher was small, he was terrified that he would meet Papa out walking in the Park one day and not recognize him.

I've seen golems. They don't behave like a real person.

When have you looked?" said Sophie. "Oh, how your rears flap and your long nose twitches", Howl croaked.

Every man in Ingary is scared stiff of her. You ought to know how that feels, Sophie dear.

Interesting things did seem to happen, but always to somebody else.

One does not want glory accepted as a matter of course. One wants to shock and astonish people with it.

Things we are accustomed to regard as myth or fairy story are very much present in people's lives. Nice people behave like wicked stepmothers. Every day.

Oh confound that gray-and-scarlet suit!" Sophie said. "I refuse to believe that I was the one that got caught with it!

I'll show you how," Peter said. "Stop hiding behind your ignorance.

Busy old fool, unruly Sophie

I don’t think I will get married,” Polly said as she stood up. “I’m going to train to be a hero instead.

As often happened, Charmain began to despair of getting her mother to understand. She's not stupid, she just never lets her mind out, she thought.

It's amazing the way one can take a step ten and a half miles long and still always land in a cowpat.

I could cut a star out of paper and drop it.

Do you mind not being so kind and obedient? It makes me nervous.

...if the spell was off, I’d have my heart eaten before I could turn around.” “Don’t you want your heart eaten?” asked the fire. [...] “Naturally I don’t,” Sophie answered.

It's a lucky child that knows that they're a genius, unaimed and all that.

Learn to drive?""Never, " said Quentin. "My mission in life is to be a passenger.

I feel ill, " [Howl] announced. "I'm going to bed, where I may die.

Wizard Howl, " said Wizard Suliman. "I must apologize for trying to bite you so often. In the normal way, I wouldn't dream of setting teeth in a fellow countryman.

...and said grace in Welsh. It was all rolling, thundering language.

Jamal stared at the dog in his arms. "Why I am I holding a dog full of angels?

Tantrums are seldom about the thing they appear to be about.

And, suddenly, as if her head cleared, she was quite sure that wonderful things did indeed exist. Even if they're only in my own mind, she thought, they're there and worth fighting for.

I'll show you how, " Peter said. "Stop hiding behind your ignorance.

In a way it was worth it, she thought, except that it was such a total waste.