Frances Hardinge Quotes

“Everybody knew that books were dangerous. Read the wrong book, it was said, and the words crawled around your brain on black legs and drove you mad, wicked mad.”

“Push something in someone’s face, and they will shove it away reflexively. Threaten to snatch it away from them, and sometimes they become convinced that it is what they want.”

“In Mosca’s experience, a ‘long story’ was always a short story someone did not want to tell.”

“Where is your sense of patriotism?"

I keep it hid away safe, along with my sense of trust, Mr. Clent. I don't use 'em much in case they get scratched.”

“If wits were pins, the man would be a veritable hedgehog.”

“The world is like a broken wrist that healed the wrong way, and will never be the same again.”

“I am anything I wish to be. The world cannot choose for me. No, it is for me to choose what the world shall be.”

“Tea is the magic key to the vault where my brain is kept.”

“Revenge is a dish best served unexpectedly and from a distance - like a thrown trifle.”

“We always find it difficult to forgive our heroes for being human.”

“You, sir, are a romantic, and I'm afraid the condition is incurable.

-Eponymous Clent”

“If you want someone to tell you what to think…"

"You will never be short of people willing to do so.”

“Brand a man as a thief and no one will ever hire him for honest labor - he will be a hardened robber within weeks. The brand does not reveal a person's nature, it shapes it.”