1. Quotes
  2. Authors
  3. Lloyd Alexander

Lloyd Alexander Quotes
page 2

Lloyd Chudley Alexander was an American author of more than forty books, primarily fantasy novels for children and young adults. His most famous work is The Chronicles of Prydain, a series of five high fantasy novels whose conclusion, The High King, was awarded the 1969 Newbery Medal for excellence in American children's literature. He won U.S. National Book Awards in 1971 and 1982.Alexander was one creator of the children's literary magazine Cricket. Wikipedia  

✵ 30. January 1924 – 17. May 2007
Lloyd Alexander: 93 quotes11 likes

Lloyd Alexander Quotes

“In the algebra of fantasy, A times B doesn't have to equal B times A. But, once established, the equation must hold throughout the story.”

Lloyd Alexander

"The Flat-Heeled Muse", Horn Book Magazine (1 April 1965)

“The task counts more than the one who does it.”

Lloyd Alexander The Chronicles of Prydain

Source: The Chronicles of Prydain (1964–1968), Book I: The Book of Three (1964), Chapter 2

“A crown is more discomfort than adornment. If you have learned that, you have already learned much.”

Lloyd Alexander The Chronicles of Prydain

Source: The Chronicles of Prydain (1964–1968), Book V : The High King (1968), Chapter 1 (Dallben)

“In the race of men is much greed and envy; but of truth, little.”

Lloyd Alexander The Chronicles of Prydain

Source: The Chronicles of Prydain (1964–1968), Book IV: Taran Wanderer (1967), Chapter 8 (Morda)

“This is a place of peace," Medwyn said, "and therefore not suitable for men, at least, not yet.”

Lloyd Alexander The Chronicles of Prydain

Source: The Chronicles of Prydain (1964–1968), Book I: The Book of Three (1964), Chapter 13

“That’s another thing about emperors—and regents,” Gareth said. “They aren’t very fond of changes, even if the changes are for the better.”

Lloyd Alexander

Source: Time Cat (1963), Chapter 9 “Secret Journeys” (p. 91)

““Oh yes,” said the Emperor. “That’s what you have to do when you approach the Celestial Presence—that’s me.”
“Well, I’m afraid that no cat in the world ever bowed to an emperor,” said Jason. “They just won’t do it, Ichigo, and you’re wasting your time if you try to force them. A cat does what he wants, when he wants, emperor or not.””

Lloyd Alexander

Source: Time Cat (1963), Chapter 8 “Master of Imperial Cats” (p. 79)

“The destinies of men are woven one with the other, and you can turn aside from them no more than you can turn aside from your own.”

Lloyd Alexander The Chronicles of Prydain

Source: The Chronicles of Prydain (1964–1968), Book III: The Castle of Llyr (1966), Chapter 19

“So you say, so you say,” murmured Fflewddur, hurrying after him. “Look closer into your heart. You may find your opinion to be somewhat different.”

Lloyd Alexander The Chronicles of Prydain

Source: The Chronicles of Prydain (1964–1968), Book III: The Castle of Llyr (1966), Chapter 5

“Once you have courage to look upon evil, seeing it for what it is and naming it by its true name, it is powerless against you, and you can destroy it.”

Lloyd Alexander The Chronicles of Prydain

Source: The Chronicles of Prydain (1964–1968), Book I: The Book of Three (1964), Chapter 19

“There is much to be known,” said Adaon, “and above all much to be loved, be it the turn of the seasons or the shape of a river pebble. Indeed, the more we find to love, the more we add to the measure of our hearts.”

Lloyd Alexander The Chronicles of Prydain

Source: The Chronicles of Prydain (1964–1968), Book II: The Black Cauldron (1965), Chapter 3

“Our only hope for tomorrow is peace now.”

Lloyd Alexander

Spring of 1970; referring to the U.S. involvement in Vietnam – as quoted in Lloyd Alexander (1991) by Jill P. May, p. 10

“He’s as impartial as a herring’s backbone, for he favors neither side and is attached to both!”

Lloyd Alexander

Source: Time Cat (1963), Chapter 15 “The Manxmen” (p. 152)

““Didn’t you ever see a cat before?”
“Of course I did,” said the boy. “Hundreds of them. But just because you’ve seen something, it doesn’t mean you stop looking. There’s always something you didn’t see before.””

Lloyd Alexander

Source: Time Cat (1963), Chapter 10 “Odranoel” (pp. 100-101)

““What civilization would be complete without a cat?” the Professor went on. “What greater blessing to the home than the kindly yet watchful eye of this tiger of the fireside?””

Lloyd Alexander

Source: Time Cat (1963), Chapter 19 “Parker’s Perpetual Mousetraps” (p. 190)

“The muse in charge of fantasy wears good, sensible shoes.”

Lloyd Alexander

"The Flat-Heeled Muse" http://www.hbook.com/1965/04/choosing-books/horn-book-magazine/flat-heeled-muse/, Horn Book Magazine (1 April 1965)

“Laws assure animals of protection – formally, officially, set down in black and white. But in the long run, the best protection is the human heart.”

Lloyd Alexander

Fifty Years in the Doghouse (1964), p. 256

“Fantasy, by its power to move us so deeply, to dramatize, even melo-dramatize, morality, can be one of the most effective means of establishing a capacity for adult values.”

Lloyd Alexander

"Wishful Thinking – Or Hopeful Dreaming?" (1968)

“If life is a loom, the pattern you weave is not so easily unraveled.”

Lloyd Alexander The Chronicles of Prydain

Source: The Chronicles of Prydain (1964–1968), Book IV: Taran Wanderer (1967), Chapter 18 (Dwyvach)

“Take this as a gift from a crone to a maiden, and know there is not so much difference between the two. For even a tottering granddam keeps a portion of girlish heart, and the youngest maiden a thread of old woman’s wisdom.”

Lloyd Alexander The Chronicles of Prydain

Source: The Chronicles of Prydain (1964–1968), Book V : The High King (1968), Chapter 9 (Dwyvach to Eilonwy)

“A pig is a pig," said the stranger, "and a pig-boy is a pig-boy.”

Lloyd Alexander The Chronicles of Prydain

Source: The Chronicles of Prydain (1964–1968), Book II: The Black Cauldron (1965), Chapter 1 (Ellidyr)

“Didn’t you ever see a cat before?”

Lloyd Alexander

“Of course I did,” said the boy. “Hundreds of them. But just because you’ve seen something, it doesn’t mean you stop looking. There’s always something you didn’t see before.”
Source: Time Cat (1963), Chapter 10 “Odranoel” (pp. 100-101)