“The rhythm built up, high resonant notes from the buzzing xylophone, the off-scale dipping warble of the flute, the eerie, strangely primeval bass of the synthesizer.
The others punctuated the music with claps and sudden piercing shrieks from behind their veils. Suddenly one began to sing in Tamashek.
"He sings about his synthesizer," Gresham murmured.
"What does he say?"
I humbly adore the acts of the Most High,
Who has given to the synthesizer what is better than a soul.
So that, when it plays, the men are silent,
And their hands cover their veils to hide their emotions.
The troubles of life were pushing me into the tomb,
But thanks to the synthesizer,
God has given me back my life.”
― Bruce Sterling, quote from Islands in the Net
“Hey, check this cheap-shot fascist shit,” David muttered, just for the record.”
― Bruce Sterling, quote from Islands in the Net
“If America suffers from drugs, perhaps you should ask what America is lacking, [“What an asshole,”] Eric King commented suddenly. They ignored him.”
― Bruce Sterling, quote from Islands in the Net
“Because you’re a straight, Laura.” “Stop calling me that!” Laura said. “What makes you so different?” “Look at you,” Carlotta said. “You’re educated. You’re smart. You’re beautiful. You’re married to a goddamn architect. You have a wonderful baby and friends in high places.” Her eyes narrowed; she began to hiss. “Then look at me. I’m a cracker. Ugly. No family. Daddy used to beat me up. I never finished school—I can’t hardly read and write. I’m diselxic, or whatever they call it. You ever wonder what happens to people who can’t read and write? In your fucking beautiful Net world with all its fucking data? No, you never thought of that, did you? If I found a place for myself, it was in the teeth of people like you.”
― Bruce Sterling, quote from Islands in the Net
“They never forget what they can’t have”
― Bruce Sterling, quote from Islands in the Net
“The typical expression of opening Friendship would be something like, 'What? You too? I thought I was the only one!”
― C.S. Lewis, quote from The Four Loves
“At this stage of life, he'd better just lean into love, because if he fell, he feared he might break a hip.”
― Susan Vreeland, quote from Luncheon of the Boating Party
“When confronted with a problem involving the use of the reasoning faculties, individuals of strong intellect keep their poise, and seek to reach a solution by obtaining facts bearing upon the question. Those of immature mentality, on the other hand, when similarly confronted, are overwhelmed. While the former may be qualified to solve the riddle of their own destiny, the latter must be led like a flock of sheep and taught in simple language. They depend almost entirely upon the ministrations of the shepherd. The Apostle Paul said that these little ones must be fed with milk, but that meat is the food of strong men. Thoughtlessness is almost synonymous with childishness, while thoughtfulness is symbolic of maturity. There are, however, but few mature minds in the world; and thus it was that the philosophic-religious doctrines of the pagans were divided to meet the needs of these two fundamental groups of human intellect--one philosophic, the other incapable of appreciating the deeper mysteries of life. To the discerning few were revealed the esoteric, or spiritual, teachings, while the unqualified many received only the literal, or exoteric, interpretations. In order to make simple the great truths of Nature and the abstract principles of natural law, the vital forces of the universe were personified, becoming the gods and goddesses of the ancient mythologies. While the ignorant multitudes brought their offerings to the altars of Priapus and Pan (deities representing the procreative energies), the wise recognized in these marble statues only symbolic concretions of great abstract truths. In all cities of the ancient”
― Manly P. Hall, quote from Secret Teachings of All Ages: An Encyclopedic Outline of Masonic, Hermetic, Quabbalistic, and Ro
“Аз съм добра майка. Мисля за всичко, което може да им се случи. Предвиждам всяка възможна злополука. А да не говоря за опасностите, които ще ги грозят, когато пораснат. Или когато излязат от градината. Не. Тези опасности си ги запазвам за после. Казах вече. Че за тях ще мисля после. Имам време. Имам време. Засега има толкова катастрофи, които трябва да предположа, толкова катастрофи. Обичам ги, защото мисля за най-лошото, което може да им се случи. За да го предвидя, за да го предвидя. Не за удоволствие мисля за кървави страхотии. Те сами ми се налагат. Това доказва, че държа на децата. Отговорна съм за тях. Те зависят от мене. Те са мои деца. Трябва да направя всичко, зависещо от мен, за да предотвратя безбройните беди, които ги дебнат. Тези ангелчета. Неспособни да се защитят, да разберат кое е добро за тях. Обичам ги. За тяхно добро мисля за всичко това. Не ми прави ни какво удоволствие. Потръпвам при мисълта, че могат да хапнат отровни плодове, да седнат на влажната трева, да ги удари откършен клон, да паднат в кладенеца, да се търкулнат от високия бряг, да глътнат камък, да ги ухапе мравка, пчела, бръмбар, да ги клъвне птица или да се одраскат в къпинака, да помиришат прекалено силно някое цвета и да има влезе листенце в нова, да го запуши, той да се възпали, възпалението да се пренесе в мозъка, да умрат толкова мънички, ето, падат в кладенеца, давят се, един клин се стоварва върху главите им, стъклото се чупва, кръв, кръв…
Тя не издържаше повече. Стана и безшумно отиде в стаята на децата. Седна на един стол. Оттам ги виждаше и трите. Те спяха, спяха, без да сънуват. Лека-полека и тя се унесе със свито сърце в тревожен сън. От време на време се стряскаше в съня си като куче, което мисли за глутницата.”
― Boris Vian, quote from Heartsnatcher
“I recall the look in Rhauk's eyes the moment he spotted Kate. It will stay with me forever, carved into my brain like an engraving on a headstone. It's as if he found something he treasured, something he's been looking for all his life.”
― Marianne Curley, quote from Old Magic
BookQuoters is a community of passionate readers who enjoy sharing the most meaningful, memorable and interesting quotes from great books. As the world communicates more and more via texts, memes and sound bytes, short but profound quotes from books have become more relevant and important. For some of us a quote becomes a mantra, a goal or a philosophy by which we live. For all of us, quotes are a great way to remember a book and to carry with us the author’s best ideas.
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