Quotes from Naomi Novik

Well, I would have struck him, but I would have had to get up. You have no notion how difficult it is to arrange skirts when sitting down; it took me five minutes together the first time.

It is quite uninteresting; that is why one comes out. — Temeraire, on being inside an egg

So the fairy silver brought you a monster of fire for a husband, and me a monster of ice. We should put them in a room together and let them make us both widows.

His name tasted of fire and wings, of curling smoke, of subtlety and strength and the rasping whisper of scales.

You were challenged beyond the bounds of what could be done, and found a path to make it true.

I don't think I can do it alone, I said. I had a feeling the Summoning wasn't really meant to be cast alone: as if truth didn't mean anything without someone to share it with.

I'm not stupid, nor a liar," I said, "and if I can't do any good, I can at least do something

The Dragon hissed under his breath with annoyance: how dare a chimaera inconvenience him, coming out of season.

Was I starting to feel evil? Yes, now I was worrying I'd be turned to the dark side by too much crochet.

I wanted to rub handprints through his dust

My mother had enough magic to give me three blessings before she died," I said, and he instinctively bent in to hear it. "The first was wit; the second beauty, and the third—that fools should recognize neither." Irina

All those stories must have ended this same way, with someone tired going home from a field full of death, but no one ever sang this part.

It seems to me that if you wish to apply laws to us, it were only reasonable to consult us on them, and from what you have read to me about Parliament, I do not think any dragons are invited to go there

His name tasted of fire and wings, of curling smoke, of subtlety and strength and the rasping whisper of scales. He eyed me and said stiffly, Don't land yourself into a boiling-pot, and as difficult as you may find it, try and present a respectable appearance.

There's no kindness in offering false hope.

I'm glad, I said, with an effort, refusing to let my mouth close up with jealousy. It wasn't that I wanted a husband and a baby; I didn't, or rather, I only wanted them the way I wanted to live to a hundred someday, far off, never thinking about the particulars. But they meant life: she was living, and I wasn't.

I do not think you are in any danger of starving, Maximus said. The surgeon said only two weeks ago that you are too fat. The devil! Berkley said indignantly, sitting up; and Maximus snorted in amusement at having provoked him.

Well, I would have struck him, but I would have had to get up. You have no notion how difficult it is to arrange skirts when sitting down; it took me five minutes together the first time.

She says it's too easy to call people evil instead of their choices and that lets people justify making evil choices. Because they convince themselves that it's okay because they're still good people overall inside their own heads. And yes, fine. But I think that after a certain number of evil choices, it's reasonable shorthand to decide that someone's an evil person who oughtn't have the chance to make any more choices. And the more power someone has, the less slack they ought to be given.

You know, it's almost impressive," he said after a moment, sounding less wobbly. "You're nearly dead and you're still the rudest person I've ever met. You're welcome again, by the way." "Given that you're at least half responsible for this situation, I refuse to thank you," I said.

I had forgotten to fear him, from too much time spent too close.

I will see you bereft of all that you have, of home and happiness and beautiful things. I will see your nation cast down and your allies drawn away. I will see you as alone and friendless and wretched as am I; and then you may live as long as you like, in some dark and lonely corner of the earth, and I shall call myself content. -Lien, Albino Celestial (Dragon)

I am not your subject or your servant, and if you want a cowering mouse for a wife, go find someone else who can turn silver to gold for you.

Because my demon told me to" isn't a generally accepted reason