Quotes from Fledgling

Octavia E. Butler ·  320 pages

Rating: (14.3K votes)


“When your rage is choking you, it is best to say nothing.”
― Octavia E. Butler, quote from Fledgling


“Let them see that you trust them & let them solve their own problems, make their own decisions.Do that & they will commit their lives to you. Bully the, control them out of fear or malice or just for your own convenience, & after a while you'll have to spend all your time thinking for them, controlling them, & stifling their resentment.”
― Octavia E. Butler, quote from Fledgling


“Or it's happening because Shori is black, and racists—probably Ina racists—don't like the idea that a good part of the answer to your daytime problems is melanin.”
― Octavia E. Butler, quote from Fledgling


“He'll mind. I can see that he's very possessive of you--and very protective." He paused, then said, "Let him mind, Shori. Talk to him. Help him. Reassure him. Stop Violence. But let him feel what he feels and settle his feelings his own way."
"All right."
"...Let them see that you trust them and let them solve their own problems, make their own decisions. Do that and they will willingly commit their lives to you. Bully them, control them out of fear or malice or just for your own convenience, and after a while, you'll have to spend all your time thinking for them, controlling them, and stifling their resentment.”
― Octavia E. Butler, quote from Fledgling


“I haven’t felt inclined to tell lies. So far, my problem is ignorance, not dishonesty.”
― Octavia E. Butler, quote from Fledgling



“it felt wrong to me that I was blundering around, knowing almost nothing, yet involving other people in my life.”
― Octavia E. Butler, quote from Fledgling


“The person I had been was gone. I couldn’t bring anyone back, not even myself.”
― Octavia E. Butler, quote from Fledgling


“I would restore what could be restored.”
― Octavia E. Butler, quote from Fledgling


“You need to know that it’s best to avoid cities. Cities overload our senses—the noise, the smells, the lights … They overload us in every possible way. Some of us get used to it, but others just get sick.”
― Octavia E. Butler, quote from Fledgling


“treat your people well, Shori. Let them see that you trust them and let them solve their own problems, make their own decisions. Do that and they will willingly commit their lives to you. Bully them, control them out of fear or malice or just for your own convenience, and after a while, you’ll have to spend all your time thinking for them, controlling them, and stifling their resentment. Do you understand?”
― Octavia E. Butler, quote from Fledgling



“I found that I almost envied his pain. He hurt because he remembered.”
― Octavia E. Butler, quote from Fledgling


“When your rage is choking you, it is best to say nothing”
― Octavia E. Butler, quote from Fledgling


“It felt like something I would want—living together with other people instead of wandering alone. The idea was a little frightening, though. I didn’t know any other people. I knew they existed, but thinking about them, wondering about them scared me almost as much as it interested me.”
― Octavia E. Butler, quote from Fledgling


“It’s very strange to be an Ina female and yet have no clear idea of what Ina females are like.”
― Octavia E. Butler, quote from Fledgling


“He had guns,” Celia said. “Iosif didn’t like guns, but Stefan did.” It hadn’t helped him survive.”
― Octavia E. Butler, quote from Fledgling



“Human trials are often games to see which lawyer is best able to use the law, the jury’s beliefs and prejudices, and his own theatrical ability to win.”
― Octavia E. Butler, quote from Fledgling


“Maintaining a prison isn’t quite as unpleasant as being a prisoner in one, but it’s bad enough.”
― Octavia E. Butler, quote from Fledgling


“May we remember and honor the Goddess as we strive to do and to be all that she expects of us.”
― Octavia E. Butler, quote from Fledgling


“Remember your dead,” she said. “Keep them around you.”
― Octavia E. Butler, quote from Fledgling


About the author

Octavia E. Butler
Born place: in Pasadena, California, The United States
Born date June 22, 1947
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“Adına yaşama kavgası denen kavgayı, karnımızı doyurmak ve sevebilmek uğruna olduğu kadar, içimizdeki kitleyi öldürmek uğruna da veririz. Kimi koşullar altında bu kitle, bireyi bencillikten tümüyle uzak, dahası kendi yararlarına aykırı davranışlara dek götürebilir. "İnsanlık", bir kavram olarak bulunmazdan ve sulandırılmazdan çok önce, kitle olarak vardı. Bu kitle vahşi, coşkun, kocaman ve sımsıcak bir hayvan gibi hepimizin içinde, anasal etkilerin uzanabildiğinden çok, çok daha derinlerde bir anafor gibi kaynar. Kitle, yaşına karşın, dünyanın en genç hayvanı, en öz yaratığı, ereği ve geleceğidir. Onun üzerine hiçbir bilgimiz yok; hâlâ birer birey olduğumuz varsayımıyla yaşamaktayız. Kimi zaman kitle, gök gürültülerinden örülü bir fırtına, içinde her damlanın yaşadığı ve aynı şeyi istediği coşkun bir okyanus gibi saldırır üzerimize. Bu saldırının hemen ardından parçalanıp gitme alışkanlığını henüz koruduğu için, fırtına geçince yine biz olarak, zavallı ve bırakılmış şeytancıklar olarak kalırız. Bir zamanlar bu denli çok, bu denli büyük ve bu denli bütün olduğumuzu anılarımıza sığdıramayız bir türlü. İş bu noktaya vardığında, aklın boyunduruğunda yaşayanlar, sorunu "hastalık" sözcüğüyle açıklarlar, alçakgönüllülüğün bayraktarlığını yapmak isteyen ise, yanılgısının gerçeğe ne denli yaklaştığının bilincine varmaksızın, havayı "insanın içindeki hayvan" diyerek yumuşatır. Kitle ise bu arada yeni bir saldırı için hazırlanır. Bir gün gelecek, kitle artık parçalanmaz olacak; belki önce bir ülkede başlayacak bu gelişme, sonra orayı çıkış noktası yapıp çevresinde ne varsa yutarak ilerleyecek; ta ki artık Ben, Sen, O kavramları değil, ama yalnızca kitle varolacağından, kitlenin varlığına ilişkin tüm kuşkular ortadan kalkana dek.”
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