39 quotes found
"At that age, Alice had grasped the idea that some things in books were real, and others were not."
"After the cousins came the accountants, who were more open in their appraisals and didn’t bother with Alice at all, and after the accountants, like a Biblical plague building up to a big finish, came the lawyers."
"He was, of course, cheating her, that was what lawyers were for."
"But—though she was not an expert on cats—she was fairly certain that they did not, as a rule, snicker."
"“Patience, my friend.” “I’m not your friend. And I’m not patient.”"
"Some things are more important than following the rules. Aren’t they?"
"In desperation, she slid her fingers in the cracks between blocks, looking for some kind of catch or hidden mechanism. Which was ridiculous, she thought, because how complicated could a secret door be if a cat figured it out?"
"“You’re a cat,” she said automatically. “Your powers of perception are astounding,” the cat drawled. “Although I feel obliged to point out, in the interests of ontological exactitude, that I am in fact only half cat. Personally, though, I have always considered it the better half.”"
"“What do you see here?” “Books?” “Indeed, books. They are the ocean in which magic swims.”"
"Magic, you’ll find, is nine parts dull to one part excitement, and the exciting bits usually hurt like the blazes."
"“I still say they’re creepy,” Ashes said. “I don’t think you get to decide what’s creepy,” Alice said. “You’re a talking cat. You’re creepy. This whole place is creepy.”"
"The sum total of Alice’s medical knowledge was that blood was supposed to stay on the inside."
"“When you’re as old as I am,” Ending said, “one’s nature is largely a product of habit.”"
"But it’s not justice that they’re mostly concerned with, it’s division of the loot."
"“But didn’t that hurt?” Dex shrugged. “Pain is an illusion. The body is only a clay vessel holding the immortal essence of the soul, so it is a mistake to attach any import to the difficulties it may encounter. In fact, the whole episode reinforced my fundamental understanding of—“ She caught Alice’s expression. “Yes. It hurt quite a lot.”"
"“Well?” the cat said. “Are we going to walk all the way there?” “You’re going to get fat if you keep being so lazy.” “You say that like it’s a bad thing. For cats, being fat that just means that you’re winning.”"
"The more he didn’t know, she reasoned, the easier he would be to fool."
"I must say, you are the least unintelligent human I have ever met."
"Of course, where magic is involved, appearances don’t mean much."
"“We’re doomed,” one of the sprites said, turning wildly in a circle as though excited at the prospect. “Doomed! Doomed!”"
"“You’re mad,” he said. “You’ve gone mad. There’s no two ways about it.” “Your mother was the one who helped me,” Alice said. “Then she’s gone mad too.”"
"“You know, you could be a bit more constructive,” Alice said. “I’m still trying to wrap my head around the magnitude of your insanity,” the cat muttered. “Once I’ve got that handled, I’ll get started on the mind-numbing terror.”"
"“You’re not very loyal,” Isaac said as Alice took his hand. “Loyalty,” Ashes sniffed, “is for dogs. Cats have better sense.”"
"Alice scooped the cat into her arms and planted a kiss on his fuzzy forehead. “What was that for?” Ashes sputtered. “What have I ever done to deserve that?” “I wanted to say thank you,” Alice said, putting him on the ground. “For everything.” “Yes, well. Far be it from me to dispute my own heroism,” Ashes muttered. “But proper thanks should involve tuna.”"
"“There’s this thing called dignity that some cats have been known to have. You might want to look into it.” “A cat is always dignified, no matter what position he finds himself in,” Ashes said. “A half-cat even more so.”"
"Ashes looked around at the palm trees, the perfect ocean, and the immaculate beach. “Ugh,” he said. “I’m in hell.”"
"Michael cleared his throat. “You’ve never had a dog, Alice?” Alice shook her head. “My father didn’t like them.” “They’re not like cats,” the boy said. “You give them commands.” “Because they lack all dignity,” said Ashes under his breath."
"It was a bit like trying to tie both shoelaces at once, one with each hand."
"Maybe that’s wisdom, seeing things that are obvious."
"“I wouldn’t try it,” Alice said. “They’re bigger than you are.” “They’re all wing,” he said dismissively. “Believe me. Large birds are the natural prey of the cat.” “Maybe once they’ve been roasted and carved,” Alice said. Ashes snorted."
"“I apologize for Ashes,” Alice said to Michael. “He’s a cat, and—” She paused, and decided that seemed like a complete description. “He’s a cat.”"
"They have servants. I’d rather have friends."
"“Don’t tell me this is about protecting humanity,” Alice said. “None of you cares one bit about the people in the real world. This is about power, just as it always has been. You’re afraid of losing a little bit of power.”"
"“He saved me, I saved him,” Alice said. “The usual, really. What else are friends for?” “If you ask me,” the cat said, “friends ought to keep you out of situations where you need saving.”"
"The truth can be useful, sometimes. Assuming you can convince people."
"“They were pretty friendly, for dancing skeletons,” Isaac said, waving after them. “If I’ve learned one thing,” Alice said, “it’s not to judge by appearances.”"
"‘‘This isn’t some stupid storybook where the underdog wins in the end. This is the real world. The strongest do what they want, and everyone else has to live with it. Or”—she glanced significantly at Isaac—“not.”"
"“Ashes, how did you do it?” “I’d like to say it was all my own talent, but cats are naturally modest.”"
"“The strongest don’t always get what they want,” she said to Ending. “Not when the weak can work together.”"