Quotes from Diana Wynne Jones

I was relying on Suliman being alive.THen when all that seemed to be left of him was Percival, I was so scared I had to go out and get drunk. And then you go and play into the Witch's hand! I'm the eldest! Sophie shrieked. I'm a failure! Garbage! Howl shouted. You just never stop to think!

Sorry I gave you a fright. Howl seemed more used to holding babies than Sophie was. He rocked Morgan soothingly and stared at him. Morgan stared, rather balefullt, back. My word, he's ugly Howl said. Chip off the old block Howl! said Sophie. But she did not sound angry.

Mother Very Easily Made Jam Sandwiches Under No Protest

When might I expect you then? Whenever is least convenient for you, the demon replied.

At least, I suppose I can't blame Calcifer, since he's an evil demon. But you you Michael-! I don't think I'm evil, Calcifer protested.

I was meaning to be kind to you this evening, but you make it very difficult.

Or had Howl slithered out so hard that he had come out right behind himself and turned out what most people would call honest?

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.

Polaris often remarks to Sol that Sirius loses his temper much less often these days. But the one sure way to send him into a flaming rage is to suggest that he finds a new Companion. Sirius will not hear of it. The small white sphere circling his goes untenanted, because he hopes that what Miss Smith said is true.

Who, me?" said Howl. "I assure you, my friends, I am cone sold stober.

Why did you pretend to run away? To deceive the Witch?" "Not likely!" Howl yelled. "I'm a coward. Only way I can do something this frightening is to tell myself I'm not doing it!

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.

Charles realized that if he were going to apologize to Chrestomanci, he had better do it at once. He turned around to say it. But the folds had already rippled flat and nothing was the same anymore....

The customer glared. Then she threw the bonnet at Sophie and stormed out of the shop. Sophie carefully crammed the bonnet into the wastebasket, panting rather. The rule was: Lose your temper, lose a customer. She had just proved that rule. It troubled her to realise how very enjoyable it had been.

She stood for a moment looking out at a slowly moving view of the hills, watching heather slide past underneath the door, feeling the wind blow her wispy hair, and listening to the rumble and grind of the big black stones as the castle moved.

How can I preach Dissolution? he said. How can I not believe in the gods when I have seen them for myself? That's a question you certainly should be asking, Chrestomanci croaked. Go down to Theare and ask it. Thasper nodded and turned to go. Chrestomanci leaned towards him and said from behind his handkerchief, Ask yourself this too: Can the gods catch flu? I think I may have given it to all of them. Find out and let me know, there's a good chap.

You won't believe the amount of trouble we get because Howl keeps falling in love, Michael said, We've had law suits, suitors with challenges, fathers with cudgels, mothers with rolling pins. And aunts. Aunts are terrible, they go for you with hat pins.

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

Funny the way it was never enough to swear and promise just the once. You seemed to have to rethink and repromise every time the subject came up.

Please, your story, or I shall offend the dignitaries of my kingdom by yawning at holy things.

Before long, everyone was giving him answers, and feeling a little superior, because it was really remarkable the number of things Chrestomanci seemed not to know. He had heard of Hitler, though he asked Brian to refresh his memory about him, but he had only the haziest notion about Gandhi or Einstein, and he had never heard of Walt Disney or reggae.

O most excellent of carpets, he said, O brightest-colored and most delicately woven, whose lovely textile is so cunningly enhanced with magic, I fear I have not treated you hitherto with proper respect. I have snapped commands and even shouted at you, where I now see that your gentle nature requires only the mildest of requests. Forgive, oh, forgive!

Sophie knew Howl could sound unhappy in heaven if it suited him.

The most she knew about gardens was the Bakers' own backyard, which contained one large mulberry tree and a rosebush, plus the window boxes where her mother grew runner beans. She knew there was earth under the plants and that the earth contained worms. She shuddered.