Quotes from Goliath

Scott Westerfeld ·  543 pages

Rating: (26.5K votes)


“Do you love him?"
Deryn swallowed, then pointed at the screen. "He makes me feel like that. Like flying.”
― Scott Westerfeld, quote from Goliath


“Let others wage war. You, lucky Austria, shall marry.”
― Scott Westerfeld, quote from Goliath


“Reality had no gears, and you never knew what surprises would come spinning out of its chaos.”
― Scott Westerfeld, quote from Goliath


“I'm a girl."
When Deryn opened her eyes, the lady boffin was staring at her with no change of expression.
"Indeed," she said.
Deryn's mouth feel open. "You mean you...Did you barking know?"
"I had no idea at all. But I make it a policy never to appear surprised." Dr. Barlow sighed, staring out the window. "Though on this occasion, it is proving rather more demanding than usual. A girl, you say? And you're quite certain?”
― Scott Westerfeld, quote from Goliath


“Have a little faith in me, Volger."
"I have great faith, tempered with vast annoyance.”
― Scott Westerfeld, quote from Goliath



“That letter was your whole future, you daft prince."
"It was my past. I lost that the night my parents died. But I found you, Deryn. Maybe I wasn't meant to end the war, but I was meant to find you. I know that. You've saved me from having any reason to keep going."
"We save each other. That's how it works.”
― Scott Westerfeld, quote from Goliath


“Oh, this beast? It's...perspicacious loris. 'Perspicacious' meaning 'wise or canny'."
"Get stuffed," Bovril said, then giggled.
"And it insults people," Telsa said. "How peculiar.”
― Scott Westerfeld, quote from Goliath


“To everyone who loves a long-secret romance, revealed at last.”
― Scott Westerfeld, quote from Goliath


“Emperors are vain and useless things.”
― Scott Westerfeld, quote from Goliath


“He makes me feel like that. Like flying.”
― Scott Westerfeld, quote from Goliath



“You can't blame a match for a house made of straw”
― Scott Westerfeld, quote from Goliath


“You young things are too easily persuaded by the touch of lips.”
― Scott Westerfeld, quote from Goliath


“Miss Rogers waved a hand. "But Mr. Hearst just wants a dramatic story. If the rebels destroy us, he'll get no story at all!"

"Aye, but has anyone explained that to the barking rebels?"

"These are civilized rebels, young man. They have movie deals!"

"That's no guarantee of sanity!”
― Scott Westerfeld, quote from Goliath


“Alek said, "Do you think I'm being a fool?"

"I think you're trying to do something good. But doing good is rarely easy, and no weapon has ever stopped a war.”
― Scott Westerfeld, quote from Goliath


“Sprinkled across the black waters below were at least a hundred small boats set out to greet the Leviathan, their navigation lights like shifting stars. Among them loomed a glittering cruise liner, her fog horn bellowing in the night. The low groan grew into a chorus as the other great ships in the harbor joined in.

Perched on Volger's desk, Bovril attempted to imitate the horns, but wound up sounding like a badly blown tuba.

Alek smiled. "But they're already singing our praises!"

"They are Americans," Volger said. "They toot their horns for anything.”
― Scott Westerfeld, quote from Goliath



“Did you really think I was too fragile to know what Deryn was?"

"Fragile?" Volger looked about. "I hadn't thought so, but now I find you brooding in a bathroom. This doesn't speak well of your sturdiness.”
― Scott Westerfeld, quote from Goliath


“He thinks Goliath can end the war," Alek managed at last. "The man wants peace!"

"As do we all," Count Volger said. "But there are many ways to end a war. Some are more peaceful than others.”
― Scott Westerfeld, quote from Goliath


“Surely no one would ever use such a weapon against a city."

"There are no limits in war," Volger said, still staring out the window.”
― Scott Westerfeld, quote from Goliath


“...that was what kept the world interesting...reality had no gears, and you never knew what surprises would come spinning out of its chaos.”
― Scott Westerfeld, quote from Goliath


“But they're already singing our praises!"
"They are Americans. They toot their horns for anything.”
― Scott Westerfeld, quote from Goliath



“No matter how far from the war we run, it always catches up with us.”
― Scott Westerfeld, quote from Goliath


“It's just the way things are." she shrugged. "It's no one's fault."
"Or everyone's.”
― Scott Westerfeld, quote from Goliath


“Fate didn't care a squick about what anybody was meant to do.”
― Scott Westerfeld, quote from Goliath


“Perhaps Clankers and Darwinists would always be at war, if only in their hearts.”
― Scott Westerfeld, quote from Goliath


“Assisted him? Dylan made the repairs. I only fell and hit my head, from what I can recall. Yes, I make excellent deadweight.”
― Scott Westerfeld, quote from Goliath



“Ah. So he's forgotten the most important rule of warfare.

Which is...

That nothing ever goes to plan.”
― Scott Westerfeld, quote from Goliath


“This is the power of the Goliath, that no one on earth, Clanker or Darwinist, can escape. So we all must learn to share the globe, or perish together!”
― Scott Westerfeld, quote from Goliath


“You have a bad habit of listing anything that can go wrong, Volger."
"I have always considered that a good habit”
― Scott Westerfeld, quote from Goliath


“I make it a policy never to appear surprised" - Dr Barlow”
― Scott Westerfeld, quote from Goliath


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About the author

Scott Westerfeld
Born place: in Dallas, Texas, The United States
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