Quotes from Ellen Klages

She still had all of her marbles, though every one of them was a bit odd and rolled asymmetrically.

Music is the hidden arithmetic of the soul, which does not know that it deals with numbers. (Paraphrasing Gottfried Wilhelm Leibnitz)

At least once a week, Dinsy was amused by the indignant sputtering of someone who had just spooned dill weed, not sugar, into a cup of Earl Grey tea.

She thought for a minute about going back, but decided that maybe being wet on a sort-of adventure was better than being dry and bored for sure.

Time has become quiet flexible inside the library. (This is true of most places with interesting books. Sit down to read for twenty minutes, and suddenly it's dark, with no clue as to where the hours have gone.)

This is overdue. Quite a bit, I'm afraid. I apologize. We moved to Topeka when I was very small, and Mother accidentally packed it up with the linens. I have traveled a long way to return it, and I know the fine must be large, but I have no money. As it is a book of fairy tales, I thought payment of a first-born child would be acceptable. I always loved the library. I'm sure she'll be happy there.

Crayola crayons, in the familiar yellow-and-green box, labeled LIBRARY PACK. Inside were the colors of Dinsy's world: Reference Maroon, Brown Leather, Peplum Beige, Reader's Guide Green, World Book Red, Card Catalog Cream, Date Stamp Purple, and Palatino Black.

All this talk about what a marvelous future science'll bring us? Art can change things just as much.' She stubbed out her cigarette. 'Maybe better.' 'Why's that?' 'Art doesn't kill anyone.

We told them I was home-schooled, raised by feral librarians.

She still had all of her marbles, though every one of them was a bit odd and rolled asymmetrically. She

No one knew how old she was, but she vaguely remembered waving to President Coolidge. She still had all of her marbles, though every one of them was a bit odd and rolled asymmetrically.

It was a deep green felt that held one thousand slips of paper, numbered 001 to 999.

You have to pick your battles.

I told Pop I wanted to be a scientist when I grew up, but he said scientists were men, and I'd just get married.

Librarians are guardians of books. They guide others along their paths, offering keys to help unlock the doors of knowledge.

The status quo doesn't stand a chance.

Turns out a missile is always a weapon, and a rocket sometimes isn't.

The sky was a hundred shades of blue, studded with clouds that hung miles above the desert floor, their tops glowing a warm, luminous peach, like whipped cream lit from within.