Quotes from book
City of Ashes

Name: City of Ashes
Author: Cassandra Clare

City of Ashes is the second installment in The Mortal Instruments series, an urban fantasy series set in New York written by Cassandra Clare. The novel was one of YALSA's top ten teen books for 2009.

“We came to see Jace. Is he alright?"
"I don't know," Magnus said. "Does he normally just lie on the floor like that without moving?”

Cassandra Clare book City of Ashes

Source: City of Ashes

“I've got a stele we can use. Who wants to do me?"
"A regrettable choice of words," muttered Magnus.”

Cassandra Clare book City of Ashes

Source: City of Ashes

“Fate is never fair. You are caught in a current much stronger than you are; struggle against it and you'll drown not just yourself but those who try to save you. Swim with it. and you'll survive”

Cassandra Clare book City of Ashes

Source: City of Ashes

“But if you can't tell the truth to the people you care about the most, eventually you stop being able to tell the truth to yourself.”

Cassandra Clare book City of Ashes

Variant: If you can't tell the truth to the people you care about the most, eventually you stop being able to tell the truth to yourself.
Source: City of Ashes

“I can stand.”
“It looks to me like you‘re using a wall to prop you up. that’s not my definition of ‘standing.’”
“Its leaning,” Jace told him. “Leaning comes right before standing.”

Cassandra Clare book City of Ashes

Source: City of Ashes

“You have to give everyone ugly motives for everything they do, because ugly motives are all you understand.”

Cassandra Clare book City of Ashes

Source: City of Ashes

“We're not dating," Alec said again.
"Oh?" Magnus said. "So you're just that friendly with everybody, is that it?”

Cassandra Clare book City of Ashes

Source: City of Ashes

“I was alive when the Dead Sea was just a lake that was feeling a little poorly.”

Cassandra Clare book City of Ashes

Source: City of Ashes

“I've heard the word 'fear'. I simply choose to believe it doesn't apply to me.”

Cassandra Clare book City of Ashes

Source: City of Ashes

“As long as there was coffee in the world, how bad could things be?”

Cassandra Clare book City of Ashes

Source: City of Ashes

“Is there some particular reason that you're here?"…
"Not this again."
"Not what again?" said Clary.
"Every time I annoy him, he retreats into his No Mundanes Allowed tree house." Simon pointed at Jace.”

Cassandra Clare book City of Ashes

Source: City of Ashes

“There's no need to clarify my finger snap," said Magnus. "The implication was clear in the snap itself.”

Cassandra Clare book City of Ashes

Source: City of Ashes

“We need to talk. All of us. About what we're going to do now."
"I was going to watch Project Runway. It's on next.”

Cassandra Clare book City of Ashes

Clary and Jace, pg. 137
Source: The Mortal Instruments, City of Ashes (2008)

“Alec looked at her and shook his head. "How do you manage never to get mud on your clothes?"
Isabelle shrugged philosophically. "I'm pure at heart. It repels the dirt.”

Cassandra Clare book City of Ashes

Source: City of Ashes

“You might want to lie down. I find that helps when the crushing sense of horrible realization sets in.”

Cassandra Clare book City of Ashes

Magnus to Maia, pg. 274
Source: The Mortal Instruments, City of Ashes (2008)

“I thought I'd lie on the floor and writhe in pain for awhile. It relaxes me.”

Cassandra Clare book City of Ashes

Jace to Alec, pg. 318
Source: The Mortal Instruments, City of Ashes (2008)

“I'll just have them change the entry in the demonology textbook from 'almost extinct' to 'not extinct enough for Alec. He prefers his monsters really, really extinct.”

Cassandra Clare book City of Ashes

Will that make you happy?"
Jace to Alec, pg. 10
Source: The Mortal Instruments, City of Ashes (2008)

“Is standing by the window muttering about blood something he does all the time?"
"No, sometimes he sits on the couch and does it.”

Cassandra Clare book City of Ashes

Simon and Jace. pg. 139
Source: The Mortal Instruments, City of Ashes (2008)

“No, I'm just a very naughty boy. I do all sorts of bad things. I kick kittens. I make rude gestures at nuns.”

Cassandra Clare book City of Ashes

Jace to Alec, pg. 311
Source: The Mortal Instruments, City of Ashes (2008)

“I am a badass, and I recognize that you, too, are a badass.”

Cassandra Clare book City of Ashes

Simon to Clary, pg. 340
The Mortal Instruments, City of Bones (2007)
Variant: The nod means, 'I am a badass, and I recognize that you, too, are a badass.
Source: City of Ashes