Jim C. Hines

"Those forced to make impossible choices are rarely loved. If it’s approval and reputation you care about, then you have no place here."

"We all know Pastor Tom Briggs is a walking skidmark in a bad suit, and his congregation is a stain on Christians everywhere…. Freedom of speech is easy when it’s speech we approve of. The true test of freedom is what we do when people like Briggs and his ilk mount their soapboxes and and show their asses to the world. Fortunately, freedom of speech doesn’t mean freedom from mockery and other consequences."

"I had said before that all stories were magic. It had never occurred to me that all magic was stories."

"Modern fantasy is little more than juvenile escapism and anachronistic longing for a time that never existed. I’ve never understood the appeal."

"“This is the worst excess of conjecture and wishful thinking,” snapped Jackson. “We don’t know if Isaac is capable of any of this.” “He believes he is,” said Bi Wei. “I once met a woman who believed she was abducted by aliens who looked like the Teletubbies,” Jackson shot back. “That doesn’t make it true.”"

"“What are you doing?” asked Nicola. “Making sure I know what I’m doing.” “Better late than never,” Lena murmured."

"In short, Fahrenheit 451 was never meant to be an instruction manual."

"Young Isaac had dreamed of fame. Young Isaac was an idiot."

"“That’s…that’s magic.” “Pretty cool, isn’t it? If I had more time, I’d tell you how it worked.” “He would,” Lena said. “Even if you ask him to stop.”"

"“Are you a doctor?” “Better. I’m a librarian.”"

"“Hey, I’m just playing devil’s advocate.” “Since when did the devil need your help?”"

"History is the world’s most egotistical gossip."

"The nice thing about people like Jellybean Man was that I knew exactly where I stood. There was no subtlety, no subterfuge or second-guessing. It was a refreshing change from talking to politicians."

"“Damn, Boss. See, this is why everyone likes it better when you’re away on your road trips.” “Don’t call me Boss. Also, staff meeting upstairs in the Wheeler room in 30 minutes.” “That’s cold, Boss. What did we do to deserve that?” “Keep it up, and I’ll make you sit through a PowerPoint presentation.” He raised his hands in surrender. “Cruel and unusual punishment.”"

"If there ever comes a day when I deliberately embrace ignorance, I’ll have lived one day too long."

"Change is a difficult, often violent process, both for individuals and for whole species. The more rapidly change, the uglier the conflict."

"I knew the one thing that truly mattered. I knew it could be done."

"Hon, nobody eats fried chicken because it’s good for them."

"This would be an excellent time for you to shut up."

"You want to know if it was worth it. I can’t answer that, Isaac. We can know what was, but not what might have been."

"The most difficult part was letting yourself ignore the lies your eyes told. Eyes were like children. If they had nothing to say, they made things up."

"“Earthmaker sounds like a useful person to have around,” Jig said. “Aye. He’s one who rewards his followers. Over a hundred years I’ve offered up my sacrifices and prayed to him for guidance. Far be it from me to guess the mind of a god, but I’m thinking he’ll not repay a century of service by letting us all die here.” Ryslind strolled to the dwarf’s side. “Yet for all of your devotion, your magic is still limited to those powers your god grants you. To be so dependent on the whim of a deity would be disturbing, to say the least.” “It’s called faith,” Darnak snapped. “And it’s a far cry safer than your wizardry. When’s the last time you heard about a priest blowing himself up after trying a new spell and waving three fingers instead of four?”"

"Goblins didn’t pray. They had no use for gods, a disinterest matched only by the gods’ disdain for goblins."

"Better the lesser of two oddities."

"Logically, Jig knew he was safe. Logic, however, had only a single small voice, and was easily overwhelmed by panic."

"A wizard am I, whom many dread, With power like a God. So come with me to yonder bed, And see my mighty rod."