Quotes by Tamora Pierce

And she told you something about yourself you really ought to know: that youre beautiful, and worth loving.

Its harder to heal than it is to kill.

I was stark raving mad, and my family was too polite to mention it. Thats what living with the Yamanis does to people. They get so well-mannered they wont mention youre crazy.

Face it, Gary told her kindly. Youll never catch up. You just do as much as you can and take the punishments without saying anything. Sometimes I wonder if that isnt what theyre really trying to teach us--to take plenty and keep our mouths shut.

Sarra looked at her daughter and said reproachfully, Speaking of war, I never raised you to be always fighting and killing. Thats not womans work.Its needful, Ma. You taught me a woman has to know how to defend herself.I never! gasped Sarra, indignant.You taught me when you were murdered in your own house, Daine said quietly.

Scummer, pox and wound rot! roared Tunstall, slamming his fist down on the bed. Gods cursed the pig-tarsed mammering craven currish beef-witted bum-licking gut-griping louts that did this to me! May every flea, leech and hookworm in all creation find and feast upon them!

If I say youre a goatherds son, you say, Yes, Lord Ralon.Alanna gasped with fury. Id as soon kiss a pig! Is that what youve been doing-kissing pigs? Or being kissed?

Feelings, she learned, were hard to fight. She treasured his smiles and compliments and tried not to dwell on the fact that he gave this things to his friend Kel.His dreamy-eyed gazes, poems, and fits of passionate melancholy were for Uline. It was hard not to resent the older girl.

Moral issues rarely have yes or no answers.-Myles to Alanna when she asks about the Gift

Just because Im no jaw clacker doesnt mean there should be a ruction put up whenever I have sommat to say.

Alan, you seem to think we wont like you unless you do things just like everyone else. Have you ever thought we might like you because youre different?

All these nice clothes, all these jokes and drinks and food, what good does it do? Tomorrow, folk will be poor and starving and dying with a solders pike in them, and these people will have another celebration, more nice clothes, more jokes, more gems. The suffering is forgotten or ignored - why sorrow? The war victims arent our people. And then the wheel turns and suddenly they are our people.

Daja doesnt exactly need to be tested on whether shes honorable or not. Doesnt she? Dont all of you? This is your first taste of the things which may come from your being powerful mages. People will offer you gold, status, even love. I want to know how you will react. If want to know if your teachers will release greedy, thoughtless monsters into the world.

I wish you would thrash him. He deserves it.She looked back at him. I will one day, sir. Im getting tired of falling down.

Corus lay on the southern bank of the Oloron River, towers glinting in the sun. The homes of wealthy men lined the river to the north; tanners, smiths, wainwrights, carpenters, and the poor clustered on the bank to the south. The city was a richly colored tapestry: the Great Gate on Kings-bridge, the maze of the Lower City, the marketplace, the tall houses in the Merchants and the Gentrys quarters, the gardens of the Temple district, the palace. This last was the citys crown and southern border. Beyond it, the royal forest stretched for leagues. It was not as lovely as Berat nor as colorful as Udayapur, but it was Alannas place.

I would apologize for my rudeness, if I had any manners. Happily, I dont.

I knew it! he cried, jubilant. I thought twas you, but theres more of you now. You shouldve seenthe likes of her, boys, he said, turning towards the other convicts as he pointed at Kel. We was all outlaws, livin on the edges, and this bunch of pages stumbled into our camp. We chased em back in a canyon, and her - he jabbed his finger at Kel - she gutted ol Breakbone Dell, and him the meanest dog-skinner youd ever hope to meet. Stood there afoot, her and her spear, cool as meltwater with Breakbone ridin down on her with that neck-cutter sword of his. First time she got im in the leg, second in the tripes, and he was done. Her and six lads held us all back, just them. There she was, eyes like stone and that bloody spear in her hand. Lady. He bowed deep. Kel looked at him, not sure what to say. Finally she asked, Whats your name, soldier?Me? Gilab Lofts - Gil. Lady. Its - its good to see you well. He bowed again and returned to hisseat, whispering with the men on either side of him.Kel waited for them to quiet once again before she said ruefully, Im not sure that being known forgutting a man is exactly a recommendation for a commander.It is in the north! cried someone. Several men laughed outright; others grinned.

I said I fell down. Ah. The ground bloodied your nose, split yer lip, and punched ye in th eye, all at once.I said I dont want to talk about it.

You know something? There are sandstorms that strip man and horse and bury them — Ive seen them. I saw bones piled higher than my head for the folly of a bad king and those who wanted his throne. I lived through a blizzard that froze every other living creature solid. Against those things, youre only a man. I can deal with you.

Theres plenty more fish in the sea than Prince Jonathan, he told her softly. And this particular fish loves you with all his crooked heart.-George to Alanna