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Garth Nix

Garth Nix Quotes

Writer

Garth Nix is an Australian author renowned for his fantasy novels. Born in July 1963, he has been active in the literary world since the 1980s. Nix's works are celebrated for their rich imagination, complex narrative structures, and profound themes.

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All Said Ifs Mogget Sabriel Thinking Garth Nix Happens Kind Trying Book

Famous Garth Nix Quotes

“When the dead do walk seek water's run, for this the Dead will always shun. Swift river's best or broadest lake to ward the dead and have and make. If water fails thee, fire's thy friend, if neither guards it will be thy end.”

Ifs Ends Running Water Walks Fire Failing Rivers Thee Lakes

Book:Lirael

Source: Lirael

“Five Great Charters knit the land Together linked, hand in hand One in the people who wear the crown Two in the folk who keep the Dead down Three and Five became stone and mortar Four sees all in frozen water.”

People Two Hands Together Three Water Five Four Land Stones Folks Crowns Linked Frozen Hand In Hand Charter Mortar

Book:Sabriel

Source: Sabriel

“Choosers will be beggars if the begging's not their choosing.”

Ifs Beggar Begging

Book:Lirael

Source: Lirael

“Fine!" muttered Mogget. "Wet, cold, and full of holes. Another fun day on the river.”

Fun Fine Cold Rivers Holes Wet Fun Day Mogget

Book:Lirael

Source: Lirael

“Do not tarry, do not stop, no matter what happens.”

Matter Happens No Matter What

Book:Sabriel

Source: Sabriel

“The visions are fragmented and a dark cloud spreads like spilt ink across the pages of possible futures.”

Fear Dark Vision Pages Clouds Spread Ink Fragmented Dark Clouds

Author:Garth Nix

“But think of how much worse it would be to sit here, not knowing. Until the Dead choke the Ratterlin and Hedge walks across the dry bed of the river to batter down the door.”

Thinking Would Be Fear Walks Knowing Doors Bed Rivers Dry Not Knowing Choke

Book:Lirael

Source: Lirael

“Even now, she wished she could write a note, push it across the table, and go away to her room. But she was no longer a Second Assistant Librarian of the Great Library of the Clayr. Those days were gone, vanished with everything else that had defined her previous existence and identity.”

Writing Rooms Existence Gone Identity Tables Notes Library Defined Going Away Librarian Assistants

Book:Lirael

Source: Lirael

“Maybe if I act well enough, I'll come to believe it myself.”

Ifs Believe Wells Enough

Book:Abhorsen

Source: Abhorsen

“As for you, Private, if you mention a word of this to anyone, I'll feed you to the cat thing here. Understand?" "Yum," said Mogget. "Yes, sir!" mumbled the telephone operator, his hands shaking as he tried to smother the burning wreckage of his switchboard with a fire blanket.”

Ifs Said Hands Fire Cat Burning Telephones Shaking Blanket Operators Wreckage Mogget

Author:Garth Nix

“Often, I get the feeling that the story is really happening somewhere and all I'm doing is trying to work out the best way to tell it.”

Way Trying Stories Feelings Happenings Work Out Best Way

Author:Garth Nix

“VIDEO ARCHIVE- INTERVIEW 24768 . GOLD-EYE I like trees… grass… only birds in sky. People walking safe. Family No Creatures. Sleep all night safe. Walk under sun in own place. Grow plants. Build. Be father with mother. Have Children. A place like Petar told me. Home. After Change goes back… I want home.”

People Want Children Home Eye Mother Night Father Grows Sleep Walks Sun Tree Sky Walking Safe Creatures Bird Gold Plant Video Grass Interviews All Night Archives

Author:Garth Nix

“He was obviously a very arrogant ragamuffin, and younger than she was, to boot. And he was wearing a necromancer's bells! Apart from that, he was quite handsome, which was another black mark as far as she was concerned.”

Black Concerned Mark Boots Bells Arrogant Handsome

Author:Garth Nix

“Who or what are you? Besides insufferably rude?”

Book:Lirael

Source: Lirael

“Well met, Mistress Lirael. This ragamuffin, as your servant so aptly described him, is His Highness Prince Sameth, the Abhorsen-in-Waiting. Hence the bells. But on to more serious matters. Could you please rescue us? Prince Sameth's personal vessel is not quite what I'm used to, and he is eager to catch me a fish before my morning nap.”

Wells Matter Used Waiting Morning Serious Please Mets Fishes Servant Bells Rescue Vessel Mistress Naps Catch Me Highness Mogget

Book:Lirael

Source: Lirael

“Just like the Perimeter! It never rains but it pours," declared the Major.”

Majors Rain Perimeter

Book:Abhorsen: Book three in the internationally bestselling fantasy series

Source: Abhorsen: Book three in the internationally bestselling fantasy series

“Time plays tricks between here and home," said Mogget sepulchrally, frightening the life out of the telephone operator.”

Said Play Home Tricks Frightening Telephones Fright Operators Mogget

Book:Abhorsen

Source: Abhorsen

“Death and what came after death was no great mystery to Sabriel. She just wished it was.”

Mystery After Death Sabriel

Book:Sabriel

Source: Sabriel

“It is taken care of. Nothing will not break into my Pit or the Far Reaches! I cannot speak for the other parts of the House, but we have Nothing well in hand here. I understand Nothing as no one else does! - Grim Tuesday”

Wells Doe Hands Care House Speak Break Taken Pits Grim Tuesday

Book:The Keys to the Kingdom #2: Grim Tuesday

Source: The Keys to the Kingdom #2: Grim Tuesday

“Knowledge, like all things, is best in moderation," intoned the Will. "Knowing everything means you don't need to think, and that is very dangerous.”

Thinking Needs Mean Knowing Dangerous All Things Moderation Knowing Everything

Book:The Keys to the Kingdom #5: Lady Friday

Source: The Keys to the Kingdom #5: Lady Friday

“I 'ad a toy when I was little,' said Suzy. She frowned for a moment, then added, 'Can't remember what it was. It moved and made me laugh.”

Littles Made Said Moments Remember Laughing Moved Ads Toys

Book:The Keys to the Kingdom #6: Superior Saturday

Source: The Keys to the Kingdom #6: Superior Saturday

“Since being a prisoner was a definite improvement over being dead, which was what she thought was going to happen when the Loundergs had attacked, Suzy was quite cheerful.”

Happens Improvement Prisoner Definite Cheerful

Author:Garth Nix

“Ow do you knock out a Denizen?" asked Suzy. "I tried it myself once or twice, but just hitting them never works." "It is not the force of the blow, but the authority with which it is delivered," quoth the raven.”

Force Authority Blow Working It Hitting Ravens

Book:Lord Sunday

Source: Lord Sunday

“Nick shook his head and found to his surprise that he did have tears left after all. He wasn't surprised by a talking cat. The world was crumbling around him and anything could happen.”

World Happens Found Left Talking Tears Cat Surprise Crumbling

Author:Garth Nix

“I can see time," whispered Mogget, so softly that his words were lost.”

I Can Lost Mogget

Book:The Old Kingdom Collection: Sabriel, Lirael, Abhorsen, Clariel

Source: The Old Kingdom Collection: Sabriel, Lirael, Abhorsen, Clariel

“Sometimes it is easier to see the light when you stand partly in the darkness.”

Sometimes Light Darkness Easier

Book:The Keys to the Kingdom #1: Mister Monday

Source: The Keys to the Kingdom #1: Mister Monday

“Be careful..you're all I've got left, to remind me who I really am.”

Left Careful Be Careful

Author:Garth Nix

“If only Sam could have stayed just like the Dog, she thought. A comforting friend without the complication of romantic interest.There had to be something she could do to completely discourage him, short of throwing up, or making herself totally unattractive. "I'm thirty-five," she said at last.”

Ifs Said Lasts Interest Five Dog Thirty Throwing Comforting Discouraging Complication Unattractive Throwing Up

Author:Garth Nix

“Bee stings are very educational”

Educational Bees

Author:Garth Nix

“I am not going to change who I am. I am human and I know how to love, and be kind, and be compassionate to those who are weaker than me. Just because I have power doesn't mean I have to use it!”

Knows Humans Kind Mean Use Know How Who I Am Be Kind Compassionate How To Love

Book:The Keys to the Kingdom #6: Superior Saturday

Source: The Keys to the Kingdom #6: Superior Saturday

“Unhand my tail!" squealed the Will.”

Book:The Keys to the Kingdom #2: Grim Tuesday

Source: The Keys to the Kingdom #2: Grim Tuesday

“I suppose you could call me...Soot," said the thing. "Yes...Soot. I have breathed it, lived in it, and eaten it for so long that it is a fitting name." "Eaten it?" asked Suzy. "Why eat soot?" "Boredom," said Soot.”

Long Said Names Boredom Call Me Fitting

Book:The Keys to the Kingdom #2: Grim Tuesday

Source: The Keys to the Kingdom #2: Grim Tuesday

“Fear and realisation of ignorance, strong medicines against stupid pride.”

Strong Fear Stupid Ignorance Pride Medicine Realisation

Author:Garth Nix

“There is never one absolutely right thing to do. All you can do is honor what you believe, accept the consequences of your own actions, and make the best out of what happens.”

Believe Happens Action Can Do Accepting Honor Consequence Things To Do Right Thing

Book:Superior Saturday

Source: Superior Saturday

“For all my longer works (i.e. the novels) I write chapter outlines so I can have the pleasure of departing from them later on.”

Writing I Can Pleasure Novel Chapters Outlines Departing

Book:Sabriel

Source: Sabriel

“Let this be my final lesson. Everyone and everything has a time to die.”

Dies Lessons Finals Sabriel

Book:Sabriel

Source: Sabriel

“For everyone and everything, there is a time to die. Some do not know it, or would delay it, but its truth cannot be denied. Not when you look into the stars of the ninth gate.”

Knows Looks Dies Stars Gates Denied Delay

Book:Abhorsen

Source: Abhorsen

“It's always better to be doing.”

Book:Lirael

Source: Lirael

“I’m not going,” he said. He held up the Third key like a weapon. Sensing his mood, it grew longer and sharper, till he was holding a trident as long as he was tall... “And anyone who tries to make me is going to suffer.” “Twice,” added the voice under the table.”

Trying Long Said Suffering Voice Keys Grew Weapons Thirds Tables Mood Tall Sensing

Book:The Keys to the Kingdom #4: Sir Thursday

Source: The Keys to the Kingdom #4: Sir Thursday

“But we survived, didn’t we? That makes it an adventure. If you get killed it’s a tragedy.”

Ifs Adventure Tragedy Survived

Book:The Keys to the Kingdom #3: Drowned Wednesday

Source: The Keys to the Kingdom #3: Drowned Wednesday

“A hundred hundred heartbeats..." whispered Sabriel, tears falling down her face.”

Faces Fall Tears Hundred Falling Down Heartbeat Sabriel Tears Falling

Book:Sabriel

Source: Sabriel

“I am Abhorsen..." He looked at the baby again and added, almost with a note of surprise, "Father of Sabriel”

Father Baby Notes Surprise Sabriel

Book:Sabriel

Source: Sabriel

“I love you," he whispered. "I hope you don't mind.”

Love Mind Love You Sabriel

Book:Sabriel

Source: Sabriel

“Time and death sleep side by side.”

Book:Abhorsen

Source: Abhorsen

“Sam picked up his pack, but before he could put it on, Mogget leaped onto it and slid under the top flap. All that could be seen of him were his green eyes and one white-furred ear. "Remember I advised against this way," he instructed. "Wake me when whatever terrible thing is a about to happen happens, or if it appears I might get wet.”

Ifs Way Might Happens Eye Remember White Terrible Ears Green Wet Packs Terrible Things Green Eyes Mogget

Author:Garth Nix

“‎"It always seemed somehow less real here... a really detailed dream, but sort of washed out, like a thin watercolor. Softer, somehow, even with their electric light and engines and everything. I guess it was because there was hardly any magic.”

Real Dream Light Magic Engines Electric Electric Light Watercolors

Book:Lirael

Source: Lirael

“Why, Yrael?” it said, as the last of the dark gave way to silver, and the shining sphere of metal sank slowly to the ground. “Why?” “Life,” said Yrael, who was more Mogget than it ever knew. “Fish and fowl, warm sun and shady trees, the field mice in the wheat, under the cool light of the moon.”

Way Said Light Lasts Dark Sun Tree Fields Moon Shining Fishes Warm Silver Spheres Metals Mice Wheat Shady Fowl Mogget

Author:Garth Nix

“So I'll do that, and I'll do my best and if my best isn't good enough, at least I will have done everything I could, everything that is in me. I don't have to try to be someone else, someone I could never be.”

Ifs Trying Done Enough Good Enough

Book:Abhorsen

Source: Abhorsen

“Your father is angry with me because he thinks I almost got myself killed,' said Sabriel, with a slight grin. 'I don't understand it myself, since I think he should be glad that I didn't.”

Thinking Should Said Father Angry Glad Sabriel

Book:Lirael

Source: Lirael

“Yet when ancient forces stir, many things are woken.”

Book:Abhorsen

Source: Abhorsen

About the Author

Born: July 19, 1963
Known for: Writer
Quotes: 105

Related Topics

Said Ifs Mogget Sabriel Thinking Garth Nix Happens Kind Trying Book

Popular Topics

People Ifs Thinking Knows Men World Way Want Love Life Inspirational Needs Giving Feels Should Writing Trying Years Mind Firsts

Books & Sources

LiraelRelated source material

SabrielRelated source material

AbhorsenRelated source material

ClarielRelated source material

The Keys to the Kingdom #2: Grim TuesdayRelated source material

Superior SaturdayRelated source material

The Keys to the Kingdom #1: Mister MondayRelated source material

The Keys to the Kingdom #4: Sir ThursdayRelated source material

The Left-Handed Booksellers of LondonRelated source material

To Hold the BridgeRelated source material

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