Lirael Quotes

“Choosers will be beggars if the begging's not their choosing.”
― Garth Nix, Lirael

“Who or what are you? Besides insufferably rude?”
― Garth Nix, Lirael

“Please," said Lirael..."I think I would like to work in this Library."
"The Library," repeated Sanar, looking troubled. "That can be dangerous to a girl of fourteen. Or a woman of forty, for that matter.”
― Garth Nix, Lirael

“When the dead do walk seek water's run,
for this the Dead will always shun.
Swift river's best or broadest lake
to ward the dead and have and make.
If water fails thee, fire's thy friend,
if neither guards it will be thy end.”
― Garth Nix, Lirael

“Choosers will be beggars if the begging's not their choosing," said the Dog
"What does that mean?"
"I have no idea," said the Dog”
― Garth Nix, Lirael

“If only Sam could have stayed just like the Dog, she thought. A comforting friend without the complication of romantic interest.There had to be something she could do to completely discourage him, short of throwing up, or making herself totally unattractive.
"I'm thirty-five," she said at last.”
― Garth Nix, Lirael

“The visions are fragmented and a dark cloud spreads like spilt ink across the pages of possible futures.”
― Garth Nix , Lirael

“Hear, hear," said the Dog, raising her head. "It's always better to be doing, Prince. Besides, you don't smell like a coward, so you can't be one.”
― Garth Nix, Lirael

“Well met, Mistress Lirael. This ragamuffin, as your servant so aptly described him, is His Highness Prince Sameth, the Abhorsen-in-Waiting. Hence the bells. But on to more serious matters. Could you please rescue us? Prince Sameth's personal vessel is not quite what I'm used to, and he is eager to catch me a fish before my morning nap.”
― Garth Nix, Lirael

“It's always better to be doing.”
― Garth Nix, Lirael

“Fine!" muttered Mogget. "Wet, cold, and full of holes. Another fun day on the river.”
― Garth Nix, Lirael

“He was obviously a very arrogant ragamuffin, and younger than she was, to boot. And he was wearing a necromancer's bells! Apart from that, he was quite handsome, which was another black mark as far as she was concerned.”
― Garth Nix, Lirael

“Even now, she wished she could write a note, push it across the table, and go away to her room. But she was no longer a Second Assistant Librarian of the Great Library of the Clayr. Those days were gone, vanished with everything else that had defined her previous existence and identity.”
― Garth Nix, Lirael

“I'll sing you a song of the long ago -
Seven shine the shiners, oh!
What did the Seven do way back when?
Why, they wove the Charter then!
Five for the warp, from beginning to end.
Two for the woof, to make and mend.
That's Seven, but what of the Nine -
What of the two who chose not to shine?
The Eighth did hide, hide all away,
But the Seven caught him and made him pay.
The Ninth was strong and fought with might,
But lone Orannis was put out of the light,
Broken in two and buried under hill,
For ever to lie there, wishing us ill.”
― Garth Nix, Lirael

“As per usual, trouble comes in several directions at once.”
― Garth Nix, Lirael

“‎"It always seemed somehow less real here... a really detailed dream, but sort of washed out, like a thin watercolor. Softer, somehow, even with their electric light and engines and everything. I guess it was because there was hardly any magic.”
― Garth Nix, Lirael

“Your father is angry with me because he thinks I almost got myself killed,' said Sabriel, with a slight grin. 'I don't understand it myself, since I think he should be glad that I didn't.”
― Garth Nix, Lirael

“Coils within coils,” murmured the cat. “Fleas upon fleas, idiots begetting idiots—”

“What?”

“Mmm, just thinking,” whispered Mogget. “You should try it sometimes.”
― Garth Nix, Lirael

“Be assured that any hurt to your spirit will pass in time. It is the nature of Death to take, but the nature of Life to give.”
― Garth Nix, Lirael

“Wake me when whatever terrible thing is about to happen happens, or if it appears I might get wet.”
― Garth Nix, Lirael

“I am the Disreputable Dog. Or Disreputable Bitch, if you want to get technical. When are we going for a walk?”
― Garth Nix, Lirael

“There were also very special or dangerous items that had to be fetched in person, or even by large parties of armed librarians.”
― Garth Nix, Lirael

“I think I would like to work in the Library.”
“The Library,” repeated Sanar, looking troubled. “That can be dangerous to a girl of fourteen. Or a woman of forty, for that matter.”
“Only in parts,” said Ryelle. “The Old Levels.”
“You can’t work in the Library without going into the Old Levels,” said Mirelle somberly. “At least some of the time. I wouldn’t be keen on going to some parts of the Library, myself.”
― Garth Nix, Lirael

“Oh, Dog!" Lirael said plaintively, giving the hound a hug. "Why is everything so difficult?"
"It just is," said the Dog, woofling gently in her ear. "But sleep will make it seem easier. A new day will bring new sights and smells.”
― Garth Nix, Lirael

“The most important questions—“What are you? Where did you come from?”—had a whole range of answers, starting with “I’m the Disreputable Dog” and “from elsewhere” and occasionally becoming as eloquent as “I’m your Dog” and “You tell me—it was your spell.”
― Garth Nix, Lirael

“It's you I'm concerned about. You are letting your fear come between you and getting better.”
― Garth Nix, Lirael

“Sixth comes Saraneth, also known as the Binder. Saraneth speaks with the deep voice of power, shackling the Dead to the wielder’s will.”
― Garth Nix, Lirael

“Lirael left in a daze of happiness. She had survived the ordeal. She had been accepted. She was going to be a librarian!”
― Garth Nix, Lirael

“I feel that you will be a maker, not a seer. You must promise me that it will be so. Promise me that you will not give in. Promise me that you will never give up hope.”
― Garth Nix, Lirael

“Choosers will be beggars if the begging’s not their choosing,” said the Dog.”
― Garth Nix, Lirael