“When he'd sworn at her and been sworn at in return, they became great friends.”
Source: The Golden Compass
Philip Pullman:
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Philip Pullman Quotes
Variant: Human beings can’t see anything without wanting to destroy it, Lyra. That’s original sin.
Source: His Dark Materials, The Golden Compass (1995), Ch. 21 : Lord Asriel's Welcome
Source: His Dark Materials, The Golden Compass (1995), Ch. 15 : The Dæmon Cages
Context: Being a practiced liar doesn't mean you have a powerful imagination. Many good liars have no imagination at all; it's that which gives their lies such wide-eyed conviction.
The Librarian to the Master, in Ch. 2 : The Idea of North
Source: His Dark Materials, The Golden Compass (1995)
“Argue with anything else, but don't argue with your own nature.”
Source: His Dark Materials, The Subtle Knife (1997), Ch. 15 : Bloodmoss
Context: "You fought for the knife?"
"Yes, but — "
"Then you're a warrior. That's what you are. Argue with anything else, but don't argue with your own nature."
Will knew that the man was speaking the truth. But it wasn't a welcome truth. It was heavy and painful. The man seemed to know that, because he let Will bow his head before he spoke again.
"There are two great powers," the man said, "and they've been fighting since time began. Every advance in human life, every scrap of knowledge and wisdom and decency we have has been torn by one side from the teeth of the other. Every little increase in human freedom has been fought over ferociously between those who want us to know more and be wiser and stronger, and those who want us to obey and be humble and submit."
"And now those two powers are lining up for battle. And each of them wants that knife of yours more than anything else. You have to choose, boy. We've been guided here, both of us — you with the knife, and me to tell you about it."
“For a human being, nothing comes naturally,” said Grumman. “We have to learn everything we do.”
Stanislaus Grumman to Lee Scoresby in Ch. 14 : Alamo Gulch
Source: His Dark Materials, The Subtle Knife (1997)
Source: His Dark Materials, The Amber Spyglass (2000), Ch. 32 : Morning
Context: One of the ghosts — an old woman — beckoned, urging her to come close.
Then she spoke, and Mary heard her say:
"Tell them stories. They need the truth. You must tell them true stories, and everything will be well, just tell them stories."
That was all, and then she was gone. It was one of those moments when we suddenly recall a dream that we’ve unaccountably forgotten, and back in a flood comes all the emotion we felt in our sleep. It was the dream she’d tried to describe to Atal, the night picture; but as Mary tried to find it again, it dissolved and drifted apart, just as these presences did in the open air. The dream was gone.
All that was left was the sweetness of that feeling, and the injunction to tell them stories.
Source: His Dark Materials Trilogy: The Golden Compass / The Subtle Knife / The Amber Spyglass
“"And then what?" said her Dæmon sleepily "build what?"
"The Republic of Heaven."”
Lyra and Pan in Ch. 38 : The Botanic Garden (closing words)
Source: His Dark Materials, The Amber Spyglass (2000)
Source: The Golden Compass
Source: The Golden Compass
“Just sort of relax your mind and say yes, it does hurt, I know. Don't try and shut it out.”
Source: The Subtle Knife
Source: His Dark Materials, The Subtle Knife (1997), Ch. 4 : Trepanning
Source: The Golden Compass
“The Christian religion is a very powerful and convincing mistake.”
Source: The Amber Spyglass
Source: The Golden Compass
Source: His Dark Materials, The Golden Compass (1995), Ch. 18 : Fog and Ice
The Master of Jordan College to the Librarian, in Ch. 2 : The Idea of North
His Dark Materials, The Golden Compass (1995)
“On, said the alethiometer. Farther, higher.
So on they climbed.”
Source: His Dark Materials, The Subtle Knife (1997), Ch. 15 : Bloodmoss
Source: His Dark Materials, The Golden Compass (1995), Ch. 18 : Fog and Ice
Sir Charles to Mrs. Coulter in Ch. 9 : Theft
His Dark Materials, The Subtle Knife (1997)
Source: His Dark Materials, The Subtle Knife (1997), Ch. 15 : Bloodmoss
