Quotes from book

Watership Down

“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.”

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

“You know how you let yourself think that everything will be all right if you can only get to a certain place or do a certain thing. But when you get there you find it's not that simple.”

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

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

“Rabbit underground, rabbit safe and sound.”

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

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

“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.”

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

“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.”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“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.”