“I get a little cranky with the whole business about kids not having attention spans. This reminds me of the usual business of thinking that the next generation is hopeless. Every generation has said that about every younger generation.” ThinkingLittlesSaidWholeKidsNextAttentionGenerationsHopelessUsualNext GenerationAttention SpanYounger GenerationCranky Author:Robin McKinley
“I like that: a little pressure on the understood boundaries of yourself. Sounded like something out of a self-awareness class, probably with yoga. See what kind of a pretzel you can tie yourself into and press on the understood... I was raving, if only to myself.” IfsKindLittlesSelfClassAwarenessUnderstoodYogaPressureSelf AwarenessPressesBoundariesTiesLike SomethingPretzels Author:Robin McKinley
“She poured the water, arranged some bread near enough the embers to scorch but not catch fire, and looked up at Little John. She was so accustomed to his step, to his bulk, that it took a moment to notice his face; and when she did . . . It was, she thought, rather like the moment it took to realize one had cut one's finger as one stared dumbly at the first drop of blood on the knife-blade. You know it is going to hurt quite a lot in a minute.” KnowsFirstsLittlesEnoughMomentsFacesWaterRealizingHurtStepsFireCuttingBloodMinutesFingersBreadKnivesAccustomedBladesEmbers Author:Robin McKinley
“She fell asleep, leaning on his chest, and he edged her a little off a particularly painful bruise, leaned his head back against the tree he had propped them up against, and closed his own eyes.” LittlesEyeTreePainfulChestsBruises Author:Robin McKinley
“Oh,' she said, too bone-weary to pretend: 'I would far rather that I love you as I saw yesterday I do than that I had gone on worshiping you as I did not long since.' And she turned away hastily, and did not see that Little John would reach out to her; and half-running, went to Tuck's cottage, where she could pull on her half-dry clothes, and become a proper outlaw again. At least, she thought, fighting back tears, like this I am Cecil, with a place among friends, and a task to do. I am someone. I wonder if perhaps if I am no longer Cecil, I am no one at all.” IfsLittlesLongSaidRunningFightingHalfWonderGoneSawsLove YouTearsClothesTasksBonesYesterdayDryReach OutWearyOutlawCottagesFighting Back Author:Robin McKinley
“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
“What we can do, we must do: we must use what we are given, and we must use it the best we can, however much or little help we have for the task. What you have been given is a hard thing--a very hard thing... But my darling, what if there were no one who could do the difficult things?” IfsLittlesHas BeensHardHelpingUseGivenDifficultCan DoTasksWhat IfDarlingDifficult ThingsHard ThingsLittle Help Author:Robin McKinley
“You are attempting to be logical, I suspect, and logic has little to do with government, and nothing at all to do with military administration.” LittlesGovernmentMilitaryLogicAdministrationLogicalSuspectsAttempting Author:Robin McKinley
“At least I was true. My intellectual abilities gave me a release, and an excuse. I shunned company because I preferred books; and the dreams I confided to my father were of becoming a scholar in good earnest, and going to University. It was unheard-of several shocked governesses were only too quick to tell me, when I spoke a little too boldly -- but my father nodded and smiled and said, 'We'll see.' Since I believed my father could do anything -- except of course make me pretty -- I worked and studied with passionate dedication, lived in hope, and avoided society and mirrors.” LittlesSaidBookDreamCoursesFatherAbilityCompanyBecomingIntellectualMirrorsUniversityPassionateExcuseReleaseSpokesDedicationScholarShockedEarnestAvoidedUnheard Author:Robin McKinley
“It seems to me further, that it is very odd that fate should leave so careful a trail, and spend so little time preparing the one that must follow it.” ShouldLittlesSeemsFateCarefulOddPreparingTrailsLittle Time Author:Robin McKinley
“The weak grey light that serves as harbinger of red and golden dawn faintly lit my window. I fumbled for a candle, found and lit it, and by its little light saw that the rose floating in the bowl was dying. It had already lost most of its petals, which floated on the water like tiny, un-seaworthy boats, deserted for safer craft. "Dear God," I said. "I must go back at once.” LittlesSaidLightFoundLostWaterSawsDyingRedWindowWeakRoseDearTinyGoldenBoatCraftsDawnCandleBowlsGreyFloatingLitPetalsDesertedDear GodHarbinger Author:Robin McKinley
“Stay a little while longer, and let everyone congratulate you - including the ones who clearly don't want to: in fact, especially the ones who clearly don't want to. You don't have to say anything but 'thank you” WantLittlesFactsIncludingSay AnythingCongratulations Book:Pegasus Source: Pegasus
“What was she to say? "The prodigal has returned? The mutineer wishes to be reinstated? The subordinate, having gone to a great deal of trouble to prove her commander wrong, has come back and promises to be a good little subordinate hereafter, or at least until next time?” LittlesNextWishDealsGoneTroublePromiseProveNext TimeCommandersHereafterSubordinatesProdigals Author:Robin McKinley
“I smiled. "I understand now. But It doesn't matter and you needn't apologize. They have been very kind to me too. Even if we did differ a little about suitable dresses." He considered me a moment, a mischievous light creeping into his eyes, and said: "Was THAT the dress - that night you wouldn't come out of your room?" I grinned and nodded, and we both laughed.” IfsKindLittlesHas BeensSaidMatterMomentsLightEyeNightRoomsDressesHis EyesLaughedApologizingSuitableYour RoomMischievous Author:Robin McKinley
“Your attitude is perhaps a little unnecessarily rigorous," suggested Jack.” LittlesAttitude Author:Robin McKinley
