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Garth Nix Quotes
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Garth Richard Nix is an Australian writer who specialises in children's and young adult fantasy novels, notably the Old Kingdom, Seventh Tower and Keys to the Kingdom series. He has frequently been asked if his name is a pseudonym, to which he has responded, "I guess people ask me because it sounds like the perfect name for a writer of fantasy. However, it is my real name." Wikipedia  

✵ 19. July 1963   •   Other names قارت نیکس, Гарт Нікс
Garth Nix photo
Garth Nix: 88   quotes 1   like

Garth Nix Quotes

“"You're sure that we'll find someone suitable here?"
"Sure as eggs is eggs," replied Sneezer. "Surer even, eggs not always being what one might expect."”

Garth Nix

Source: The Keys to the Kingdom series, Mister Monday (2003), p. 33.

“Wake me when what terrible thing is going to happen, happens, or if it appears I might get wet.”

Garth Nix

Old Kingdom series (The Abhorsen Trilogy), Abhorsen (2003)

Appearance

“The Clayr Saw a sword and so I was. Remember the Wallmakers. Remember Me.”

Garth Nix

Source: Old Kingdom series (The Abhorsen Trilogy), Abhorsen (2003), p. 52.

“Soon the Myrmidons would surround him, silver nets shooting out to catch him in their sticky tracery. Then a Winger would come to take him away. Back to the Dorms. Or if he was old enough… straight to the Meat Factory.”

Garth Nix book Shade's Children

Source: Shade's Children (1997), p. 12.

“I’ll sing you a song of the long ago -
Seven shine the shiners, oh!
What did the Seven do way back when?
Why, they wove the Charter then!
Five for the warp, from beginning to end.
Two for the woof, to make and mend.
That’s the Seven, but what of the Nine-
What of the two who chose not to shine?
The Eighth did hide, hide all away,
But the Seven caught him and made him pay.
The Ninth was strong and fought with might,
But lone Orannis was put out of the light,
Broken in two and buried under hill,
Forever to lie there, wishing us ill.”

Garth Nix

Source: Old Kingdom series (The Abhorsen Trilogy), Lirael: Daughter of the Clayr (2001), pp. 525-526.

Lie , Way , Light , Strong

“Flotsam floats when all is sunk.
Jetsam thrown isn't just junk.
Coughs and colds and bright red sores
Waiting for us, so bend yer oars!”

Garth Nix

Source: The Keys to the Kingdom series, Drowned Wednesday (2005), p. 53.

Waiting

“"Who can I trust?" Arthur blurted out.
"Those who wish you well," said the Old One. "Not those who wish to use you well. Be a player, not a pawn. And that is three questions and all your time."”

Garth Nix

Source: The Keys to the Kingdom series, Mister Monday (2003), p. 247.

Question , Time

“I think I might love you too, Charter help me, but now is”

Garth Nix

Source: Old Kingdom series (The Abhorsen Trilogy), Sabriel (1995), p. 327.

Love , Thinking , Help

“I don't… I don't care," he said softly to his reflection. "I have a job to do. It doesn't matter what I have become. It doesn't matter what I look like.”

Garth Nix

Source: The Keys to the Kingdom series, Lord Sunday (2010), p. 45.

“"Come on, then, Giac," said Suzy. "Last one to the top is a rotten sorceror."
She started off at a run, but paused after a few steps when Giac didn't immediately follow. He was looking puzzled.
"Come on!"
"But I already am a rotten sorceror," he said.”

Garth Nix

Source: The Keys to the Kingdom series, Lord Sunday (2010), p. 181.

“So are you saying that somebody went to all the trouble to make you a crypt a thousand years ago on the off chance that you might turn up one day, walk in, and have a convenient heart attack?”

Garth Nix

Source: Old Kingdom series (The Abhorsen Trilogy), Lirael: Daughter of the Clayr (2001), p. 231.

Chance , Heart

“Teachers are very undervalued for what they do.”

Garth Nix

Interview at KidsReads (2003)

Teachers

“The Trackers were on the move again, spreading out to search. It sounded like a trio on each side of the train, coming toward him.
Gold-Eye pictured them in his head, trying to get his Change Vision to show him exactly where they were.
But the Change Vision came and went when it chose, and couldn't be controlled.”

Garth Nix book Shade's Children

Source: Shade's Children (1997), p. 10.

Search , Change , Training

“I don't want to make a mistake," said the Will softly. "Better not to make a decision than to make a mistake."
"The whole House is going to fall down if you don't make a decision!”

Garth Nix

Arthur argued.
Source: The Keys to the Kingdom series, Grim Tuesday (2004), p. 319.

Decision , Housing

“Do you promise you won't hurt me?" asked Arthur.
"You will be safe from all harm for the space of a quarter hour, as measured by this clock," replied the Old One. "You are mortal enough that I would not slay you like a wandering cockroach, or a Denizen of the House.”

Garth Nix

"Thanks," said Arthur. "I think."
Source: The Keys to the Kingdom series, Superior Saturday (2008), p. 67.

Thinking , Hurt , Housing

“"You are a weak reed, Recruit Green!" Helve shouted. "Weak reeds make for badly woven baskets! This platoon will not be a badly woven basket!"”

Garth Nix

Source: The Keys to the Kingdom series, Sir Thursday (2006), p. 156.

“"You're really, truly not going to kill everyone?" asked Marek.
"No!" shouted Arthur. "Why do you keep asking? Do I look like some kind of crazy murderer?"
"No…" Marek sounded as if he did still think that but didn't want to upset Arthur.”

Garth Nix

Source: The Keys to the Kingdom series, Lady Friday (2007), p. 91.

Thinking

“"Lord Arthur, may I present Lady Wednesday's Dawn?"
Arthur bowed. He had already half-guessed the identity of their surprise guest. She had the hauteur that all the chief servants of the Trustees possessed. A kind of look that said, I am superior and you had better admit it.”

Garth Nix

Source: The Keys to the Kingdom series, Drowned Wednesday (2005), p. 167.

“You are a weak reed, Recruit Green!”

Garth Nix

Helve shouted. "Weak reeds make for badly woven baskets! This platoon will not be a badly woven basket!"
Source: The Keys to the Kingdom series, Sir Thursday (2006), p. 156.

“I am the Disreputable Dog. Or Disreputable Bitch, if you want to get technical. When are we going for a walk?”

Garth Nix

Source: Old Kingdom series (The Abhorsen Trilogy), Lirael: Daughter of the Clayr (2001), p. 115.

Bitch , Dogs

“I am a necromancer, but not of the common sort, while others of the art raise the dead, I lay them to rest - or try too - and those that will not rest I bind, for I am Abhorsen…”

Garth Nix

He turned to the baby again and added, almost with a note of surprise, "Father of Sabriel."
Source: Old Kingdom series (The Abhorsen Trilogy), Sabriel (1995), p. 14.

Dead , Art

“What happened?”

Garth Nix book Grim Tuesday

Arthur asked. He caught a glimpse of something below, but couldn't quite make out what it was. "The Nithling-"
"Missed me," called out Suzy. "Close-run thing. Bit off my right clog. I was kicking it in the teeth, so I s'pose that's fair."
Source: The Keys to the Kingdom series, Grim Tuesday (2004), p. 177.

“Who can I trust?”

Garth Nix book Mister Monday

Arthur blurted out.
"Those who wish you well," said the Old One. "Not those who wish to use you well. Be a player, not a pawn. And that is three questions and all your time."
Source: The Keys to the Kingdom series, Mister Monday (2003), p. 247.