“Oh, why does compassion weaken us?' It doesn't, really...Somewhere where it all balances out-don't the philosophers have a name for it, the perfect place, the place where the answers live?-if we could go there, you could see it doesn't.It only looks, a little bit, like it does, from here, like an ant at the foot of an oak tree. He doesn't have a clue that it's a tree; it's the beginning of the wall round the world, to him.” IfsWorldLooksLittlesDoeNamesBitsAnswersPerfectCompassionTreeFeetWallBalanceLittle BitRoundsPhilosopherClueAntsOaksOak Tree Author:Robin McKinley
“When you write your first novel you don't really know what you're doing. There may be writers out there who are brilliant, incisive and in control from their first 'Once upon a time'. I'm not one of them. Every once upon a time for me is another experience of white-water rafting in a leaky inner tube. And I have this theory that while the Story Council has its faults, it does have some idea that if books are going to get written, authors have to be able to write them.” IfsKnowsWritingFirstsMayDoeBookIdeasStoriesAbleWaterWhiteNovelWrittenTheoryFaultsBrilliantCouncilTubesOnce Upon A TimeRaftingWhite Water Author:Robin McKinley
“What you describe is how it happens to everyone: magic does slide through you, and disappear, and come back later looking like something else. And I'm sorry to tell you this, but where your magic lives will always be a great dark space with scraps you fumble for. You must learn to sniff them out in the dark.” DoeHappensDarkSpaceMagicSorryDisappearI'm SorrySlidesLike SomethingScrap Book:Spindle's End Source: Spindle's End
“My kind [vampires] does not surprise easily," he said. "You surprised me, this morning. I have thus used up my full quota of shock and consternation for some interval." I stared at him. "You made a *joke*." "I have heard this kind of thing may happen.” KindMayDoeMadeSaidHappensUsedMorningHeardJokesSurpriseVampireShockIntervalsQuotaConsternation Author:Robin McKinley
“Cigars should be like onions," she said, unfastening the catch and pushing back the pane. "Either the whole company does, or the whole company does not.” ShouldDoeSaidWholeCompanyPushingCigarOnionsPushing Back Book:The Blue Sword Source: The Blue Sword
