Richard Adams citations

“My heart has joined the Thousand, for my friend stopped running today.”

“He fought because he actually felt safer fighting than running.”

“My Chief Rabbit has told me to stay and defend this run, and until he says otherwise, I shall stay here. --Bigwig”

“There is nothing that cuts you down to size like coming to some strange and marvelous place where no one even stops to notice that you stare about you.”

“Many human beings say that they enjoy the winter, but what they really enjoy is feeling proof against it. For them there is no winter food problem. They have fires and warm clothes. The winter cannot hurt them and therefore increases their sense of cleverness and security. For birds and animals, as for poor men, winter is another matter. Rabbits, like most wild animals, suffer hardship.”

“Many human beings say that they enjoy the winter, but what they really enjoy is feeling proof against it.”

“A thing can be true and still be desperate folly, Hazel.”

“Lots of little Bigwigs, Hazel! Think of that, and tremble!”

“We all have to meet our match sometime or other.”

“Rabbit underground, rabbit safe and sound.”

“Men will never rest till they've spoiled the earth and destroyed the animals.”

“Rabbits live close to death and when death comes closer than usual, thinking about survival leaves little room for anything else.”

“They want to be natural, the anti-social little beasts. They just don't realize that everyone's good depends on everyone's cooperation.”

“That wasn't why they destroyed the warren. It was just because we were in their way. They killed us to suit themselves.”

“I am sorry for you with all my heart. But you cannot blame us, for you came to kill us if you could.”

“I've always said that Watership Down is not a book for children. I say: it's a book, and anyone who wants to read it can read it.”

“Be cunning, and full of tricks, and your people will never be destroyed.”

“Would that the dead were not dead! But there is grass that must be eaten, pellets that must be chewed, hraka that must be passed, holes that must be dug, sleep that must be slept.”

“For that matter, Odysseus himself might have borrowed a trick or two from the rabbit hero, for he is very old and was never at a loss for a trick to deceive his enemies.”

“Dangerous thing, a name. Someone might catch hold of you by it, mightn't they?”

“When the man was disgraced and told to go away, he was allowed to ask all the animals whether any of them would come with him and share his fortunes and his life. There were only two who agreed to come entirely of their own accord, and they were the dog and the cat. And ever since then, those two have been jealous of each other, and each is for ever trying to make man choose which one he likes best. Every man prefers one or the other.”

“All the world will be your enemy, Prince with a Thousand Enemies. And whenever they catch you, they will kill you. But first, they must catch you; digger, listener, runner, Prince with the swift warning. Be cunning, and full of tricks, and your people will never be destroyed.”