“This is a place of peace," Medwyn said, "and therefore not suitable for men, at least, not yet.”
Source: The Chronicles of Prydain (1964–1968), Book I: The Book of Three (1964), Chapter 13
Quotes from work
The Chronicles of Prydain
The Chronicles of Prydain is a pentalogy of children's high fantasy Bildungsroman novels written by American author Lloyd Alexander. Henry Holt published one annually from 1964 to 1968; the second earned a 1966 Newbery Honor and the last won the 1969 Newbery Medal.The five novels follow the protagonist Taran from youth to maturity, most overtly in the fourth book, Taran Wanderer. Taran has the title Assistant Pig-Keeper at Caer Dallben but initially dreams of being a grand hero. His most important companions in adventure are Princess Eilonwy, a girl his age; Fflewddur Fflam, a wandering bard and minor king; Gurgi, a wild man-beast; and Doli, a dwarf.
“Evil cannot be conquered by wishing.”
Source: The Chronicles of Prydain (1964–1968), Book V : The High King (1968), Chapter 21
Source: The Chronicles of Prydain (1964–1968), Book III: The Castle of Llyr (1966), Chapter 19
Source: The Chronicles of Prydain (1964–1968), Book III: The Castle of Llyr (1966), Chapter 5
Source: The Chronicles of Prydain (1964–1968), Book I: The Book of Three (1964), Chapter 19
Source: The Chronicles of Prydain (1964–1968), Book II: The Black Cauldron (1965), Chapter 3
The runic inscription upon the scabbard of Dyrnwyn, correctly read by the bard Taliesin, in Chapter 19
The Chronicles of Prydain (1964–1968), Book V : The High King (1968)
“If life is a loom, the pattern you weave is not so easily unraveled.”
Source: The Chronicles of Prydain (1964–1968), Book IV: Taran Wanderer (1967), Chapter 18 (Dwyvach)
Source: The Chronicles of Prydain (1964–1968), Book V : The High King (1968), Chapter 9 (Dwyvach to Eilonwy)
“I am well content as an Assistant Pig-Keeper.”
Source: The Chronicles of Prydain (1964–1968), Book V : The High King (1968), Chapter 21
Context: “Long ago I yearned to be a hero without knowing, in truth, what a hero was. Now, perhaps, I understand it a little better. A grower of turnips or a shaper of clay, a Commot farmer or a king — every man is a hero if he strives more for others than for himself alone. Once,” he added, “you told me that the seeking counts more than the finding. So, too, must the striving count more than the gain.
“Once, I hoped for a glorious destiny,” Taran went on, smiling at his own memory. “That dream has vanished with my childhood; and though a pleasant dream it was fit only for a child. I am well content as an Assistant Pig-Keeper.”
“Now I know who I am: myself and none other. I am Taran.”
Source: The Chronicles of Prydain (1964–1968), Book IV: Taran Wanderer (1967), Chapter 21
Context: “I saw myself,” Taran answered. “In the time I watched, I saw strength – and frailty. Pride and vanity, courage and fear. Of wisdom, a little. Of folly, much. Of intentions, many good ones; but many more left undone. In this, alas, I saw myself a man like any other.
“But this, too, I saw,” he went on. “Alike as men may seem, each is different as flakes of snow, no two the same. You told me you had no need to seek the Mirror, knowing you were Annlaw Clay-Shaper. Now I know who I am: myself and none other. I am Taran.”
“Many have pursued honor, and in the pursuit lost more of it than ever they could gain.”
Source: The Chronicles of Prydain (1964–1968), Book IV: Taran Wanderer (1967), Chapter 21
Context: “When I was a child I dreamed of adventure, glory, honor in feats of arms. I think now that these things are shadows.”
“If you see them as shadows then you see them for what they are,” Annlaw agreed. “Many have pursued honor, and in the pursuit lost more of it than ever they could gain.”
Source: The Chronicles of Prydain (1964–1968), Book V : The High King (1968), Chapter 21
Context: “Dyrnwyn is yours,” Gwydion said, “as it was meant to be.”
“Yet Arawn is slain,” Taran replied. “Evil is conquered and the blade’s work done.”
“Evil conquered?” said Gwydion. “You have learned much, but learn this last and hardest of lessons. You have conquered only the enchantments of evil. That was the easiest of your tasks, only a beginning, not an ending. Do you believe evil itself so quickly overcome? Not so long as men still hate and slay each other, when greed and anger goad them. Against these even a flaming sword cannot prevail, but only that portion of good in all men’s hearts whose flame can never be quenched.
Source: The Chronicles of Prydain (1964–1968), Book V : The High King (1968), Chapter 9
Context: “You are the oaken staff I lean on,” Taran said. “More than that.” He laughed. “You are the whole sturdy tree, and a true warrior.”
Coll, instead of beaming, looked wryly at him. “Do you mean to honor me?” he asked. “Then say, rather, I am a true grower of turnips, and a gatherer of apples. No warrior whatever, save that I am needed thus for a while. My garden longs for me as much as I long for it.”
“Speak up, my boy. If you want truth, you should begin by giving it.”
Source: The Chronicles of Prydain (1964–1968), Book IV: Taran Wanderer (1967), Chapter 1
“A pig is a pig," said the stranger, "and a pig-boy is a pig-boy.”
Source: The Chronicles of Prydain (1964–1968), Book II: The Black Cauldron (1965), Chapter 1 (Ellidyr)
Source: The Chronicles of Prydain (1964–1968), Book V : The High King (1968), Chapter 21
Context: “How then?” Taran asked. “Could The Book of Three deceive you?”
“No, it could not.” Dallben said. “The book is thus called because it tells all three parts of our lives: the past, the present, and the future. But it could as well be called a book of ‘if.’ If you had failed at your tasks; if you had followed an evil path; if you had been slain; if you had not chosen as you did — a thousand ‘ifs,’ my boy, and many times a thousand. The Book of Three can say no more than ‘if’ until at the end, of all things that might have been, one alone becomes what really is. For the deeds of a man, not the words of a prophecy, are what shape his destiny.”
