Novelists From Canada

"Imaro exploded. "Why do men fight like starving lions over yellow metal and let valuable cattle go?""

"As human beings, we have to learn; we have to become knowledgeable enough to be able to accomplish that continuum of life, and also to make life natural. When we can’t do that, we are not learning; we are not knowledgeable; we are parasites on the earth and we destroy life rather than create life, work with life, embrace life, and uphold life."

"one of the questions that I had in my writing was not so much about how to reorganize the material, but also how to write the material in a written form and retain the integrity of how we perceive oral literatures and how they work."

"I don’t believe that we could exist with one foot in two worlds. We have to be able to synthesize and be part of whatever that world is, from within our identity."

"the idea of complete regeneration has to be underpinned by an idea that every life form has as much right to exist as the human lifeform. That idea of the human being having dominion, or the human being having more right or more privilege, in terms of the field of ethics, is no different than saying one race having more right and more privilege. So, that is a profound principle to think about. How do you enforce that? How do you create that? How do you act responsibly,if that were the bottom line? How would you create a government? How would you create an economic system? How would you create an education system around that?"

"This love that had come to her was a kind of madness. It owned her. It created a wreckage of her body. The way, after a long climb, there is no longer searing pain and the muscles give up and all that is left is a deep and silent quivering. All else is blurred and each breath is a sacrifice. The way when the body finally finds itself. This madness moved inside, not the heart, but a place more hidden, yet more omnipresent. A place where one should never find it. It had found her; claimed her in the way it did to make her become what she must. This love. This is a map."

"Knowledge should be mobilized for all people. It’s not something that is held only by one group"

"Indigeneity describes principles of how to be in a specific place, and the kinds of laws or rules or protocols that human beings could practice within those principles. Indigeneity can still apply in a contemporary context, without humans having to go back to the woods of a thousand years ago. (Mind you, that would be nice too.)"

"if we were to look at how the cells in the body operate, they are interdependent. If you look at how an ecosystem operates, any ecosystem, there is this mechanism of interdependency, which means one part could not exist without the cooperation and the help of the other parts that surround it. So, if we look at communities in that way, as an interdependency, and we look at what, therefore, it might mean in terms of governance, or a social structure, then it becomes really exciting research. Because, in a lot of ways, the opposite ideas are in place in regards to governance and government. Where governance and government is largely exclusionary, and largely protectionist, in terms of trying to isolate and protect"

"The idea of indigeneity is to create that kind of process, and to mimic, this is where the idea of eco-mimicry comes in, and to be able to mimic what nature does in those interactions in order to stabilize how we have to participate in that interaction of what constitutes the place we live. So, we become a healthy part of that interaction rather than isolated from it, or aggressive toward it."

"Globalization is foundational to destruction because of the competitive nature of corporations, extraction of resources, mobilization of peoples as a labor force,, and countries segmenting the world to own and commoditize. In contrast, indigenous peoples, valuing long term residency and knowledge, work within the conditions appropriate to whichever place they are located. They develop social structures to live sustainably, not only for the environment but for the community itself. To be indigenous to a place is to have adapted to the conditions present over a long period of time, to have learned not only how to thrive, but how to survive the catastrophic interventions and changes that threaten lifeforms on the land."

"You wouldn’t let your schooling interfere with your education."

"When the Sleepy Man comes with the dust on his eyes (Oh, weary, my Dearie, so weary!) He shuts up the earth, and he opens the skies. (So hush-a-by, weary my Dearie!)"

"O wild, dark flower of woman, Deep rose of my desire, An Eastern wizard made you Of earth and stars and fire."

"Time, like a flurry of wild rain, Shall drift across the darkened pane!"

"Death is only a doorway."

"Life is an ambivalent lover. One moment, you are everything and life wants to consume you entirely. The next moment, you are an insignificant speck of nothing. Meaningless."

"It’s something about being in love looking like all the things you’ve lost finding you once more."

"My alter ego was awake and listening. “Magic,” he said. “To one whose only instrument is a drum, all melodies are much the same,” I answered inwardly."

"A lifelong habit of being right also had the effect of diminishing one’s social appeal, especially among those who prefer to keep the bubble of their various illusions a safe distance from a needle-sharp and probing intelligence."

"“Who was it who said that irony is the fundamental operating principle of the universe?” “I believe,” I said, “that it was Henghis Hapthorn.”"

"Talking was only one of the uses to which Chalivire liked to put her large and loose-lipped mouth; another was filling it with the products of The Braid’s renowned kitchens."

"Filidor marveled at the intransigence of adolescence, not remembering that he had possessed an abundance of the same quality not many years since."

"As ever, you vainly grasp at diaphanous vastness while the tangible turns to mist in your hands."

"She could be—he hoped would be—what he had always lacked: a center to the map of his life, that one, necessary fixed point from which he could navigate out into the world and by which he could always find his way back home again."

"Have you considered the possibility that our standards as to what is important may differ?"

"Insanity was not unknown among the wealthy. Indeed, some forms of madness had sometimes been cultivated as fashionable accessories."

"Also, there was a remarkable display of objects that primitive humanity had allegedly thrust through various parts of their bodies—some of them extremely sensitive—for decorative effect. I shuddered slightly at the thought: self-mutilation, though everyone’s right, had always taken me aback."

"“I have a reputation for genius,” I said, though I lowered my voice. “It can withstand some eccentricities.”"

"Life is a hopeless rear guard action against an overwhelming foe; still how can we not admire those who battle on regardless?"

"Filidor was becoming more and more convinced that he had recently been inhabiting a reality that was at sharp variance to the rest of the world’s."

"“What is your theory?” my assistant asked, but again I declined to answer. A mistaken theory that never went farther than its originator’s mind does not count as an error."

"I cannot comment on your beliefs. What appears self-evident to one person may seem to another observer to be entirely the product of an idiosyncratic bent."

"The commerciants of Olkney were renowned for their egalitarian spirit, judging rich and poor alike solely by the weight of their purses."

"“I will inform the world of your preference,” said Gaskarth, “but I doubt it will lead to any significant improvements in your lot.”"

"“We are all used, all users. With luck, the final tally approximates a balance in our favor. But I think you are one of those who calls the proverbial glass half empty, while I prefer to call it half full.” “No,” said Filidor, “in truth, I have never given these matters much thought. I am one who quaffs the glass empty and calls for it to be refilled.”"

"“Your remarks demonstrate how proximity narrows perspective,” said Gaskarth. “Events in and of themselves are less pertinent than the effects and interpretations to which they give rise.”"

"Gathering himself together, he asked the dwarf, “Was all this in some way planned and predetermined?” Gaskarth turned upon the young man a thoughtful gaze. “There are those who say that all is planned, to the placement of the last mote and mite. There are others who say that nothing is purposed, and that the galaxies themselves swing where they will. And then there are some, like me, who prefer to walk on, saying as little as possible.”"

"“Knowledge can be a hindrance to right action,” answered the little man. “There are those who hold that, if we but knew the full ramifications of even our least deeds, the ensuing concatenations of cause and effect would paralyze us with indecision.”"

"Into the Zeelotic ethos, we have injected the philosophical axiom—well known to the field of fashion—that the outmoded only remains so until it becomes unremembered, after which it may justly return as the avant-garde."

"“I am not one to deny the broadening effects of distant lands,” offered Nofreg, “yet I have often said that the chief benefit of travel is to allow the returned sojourner a renewed appreciation of his native milieu.”"

"“I suspect that the benefits of travel are indeed overrated. It seems mostly hardship and needless frustration,” she said."

"Does not the acceptance of a spurious perfection end the search for true perfection?"

"“We all use the world, and are used by it,” he said, after a moment. “Some of us are more aware than others of using and being used. It is our fortune to have fewer illusions.”"

"“From within such a calcified culture, no change can be generated; the impetus for reform must arise from without. Hence, the external threat posed by Hunan Diath.” “Who does not exist,” said Filidor. “Who need not exist,” said Gaskarth, “so long as the idea can do its work.”"

"“I disagree,” said Jenbo Lal. “Disagreeability is your forte,” said Gaskarth."

"Things are as they were meant to be. “But it was arranged so by you and me.” Then we are instruments of fate. “Knowing instruments,” said Filidor. How does that make a difference?"

"Assigning blame is a fixation of an ineffective mind."

"“That is unfair,” said Filidor. Gavne shrugged. “Things are as they are. If you quest after justice, young women are the wrong continent to explore. They run more to clemency or spite.”"

"“This conversation would be more easily conducted,” said Filidor, “if I had any notion of what you are talking about.”"