Quotes from Perfect Scoundrels

“The things that are most precious to us are sometimes the most secret.”
― Ally Carter, quote from Perfect Scoundrels

“He's better-looking then the last vagabond I had to take in," Eddie said, standing and carrying empty bowls to the sink. "I'll give him that."

The insult slid off of Bobby like water. "So, you know, kid, according to thief culture, if you're going to court Kat, you now owe me two dozen goats."

"It's a dozen," Eddie corrected.

"Yeah, but Kat's worth two," Hamish said with a wink.

Through it all, Hale said nothing. Then, finally, he smiled. "I'm afraid I'm all out of goats at the moment, but I've got some ruby cuff links you can have."

"No." Bobby shook his head. "It's goats or nothing."

"Sorry, Kat." Hale shrugged, disappointed. "It was fun while it lasted."

"Don't look at me." Kat threw up her hands. "I'm officially ignoring all of you.”
― Ally Carter, quote from Perfect Scoundrels

“I'm sure Uncle Eddie won't kill him. He'll probably just maim him a little."

"No," Uncle Eddie said. "I won't."

"Okay," Gabrielle said. "So he'll maim him a lot. But Hale can take it.”
― Ally Carter, quote from Perfect Scoundrels

“Kat looked at Hale. "I've never heard Marcus talk this much."

"Yeah," Hale whispered. "I'm trying to decide if I like it."

Just then, Marcus took the ruler and struck Eddie in the stomach. "Hale men speak from the diaphragm!"

Hale nodded. "I definitely like it.”
― Ally Carter, quote from Perfect Scoundrels

“The Bagshaws aren't boys. They're bombs with very colorful fuses.”
― Ally Carter, quote from Perfect Scoundrels

“Someday you will know that the heart is not always as wise as it is strong. - Uncle Eddie”
― Ally Carter, quote from Perfect Scoundrels

“What?" He cut a grin at Kat when he saw the impressed look on her face. "Corporate espionage is my second greatest passion.'

"With your first being..." Kat prompted.

"Gelato," Hale said, and turned back to the group.”
― Ally Carter, quote from Perfect Scoundrels

“So, your dad's hot."
"Thanks. He was that way when I met him, so I can't really take credit.”
― Ally Carter, quote from Perfect Scoundrels

“If you don't want to be a victim, don't act like one.”
― Ally Carter, quote from Perfect Scoundrels

“But on the upside, I guess we're getting ready to find out if you really only love me for my jet."
"I might love you for your jet," Gabrielle said, straight-faced.
He smiled a Kat. "What about you?"
"Yeah," Kat said, nodding. "I guess that is the question.”
― Ally Carter, quote from Perfect Scoundrels

“And so that means..."
"We have to rob the Henley," Simon said.
Kat sank onto a truly uncomfortable sofa. "Again.”
― Ally Carter, quote from Perfect Scoundrels

“The Princess and the Pea?" Gabrielle suggested.

"Not enough time," Kat said

"Where's Waldo?" Gabrielle went on.

"No." Hamish recoiled. "I am still not allowed back in Morocco.”
― Ally Carter, quote from Perfect Scoundrels

“Kat picked up a folder labeled Senior. "What are these? Bank records?" She did a double take, looking at Hale. "Did your dad really pay two million dollars to the campaign to elect Ross Perot?"

"I..." Hale said, stumbling for words and thumbing through another file. "Wow. I guess my cousin Charlotte isn't really my cousin."

"Don't worry," Kat said. "It looks like there might be a kid in Queens who is.”
― Ally Carter, quote from Perfect Scoundrels

“That's why we're going to disrupt the lunch," she (Kat) said.

"You know," Angus said, "I've got a little C-four that I've been saving for a rainy--"

"We're not blowing up my company, Angus," Hale said.

"Righto. Carry on, Kitty.”
― Ally Carter, quote from Perfect Scoundrels

“Now, now, hear me out," Hamish went on. "We don't have to kidnap Garrett. Not if we kidnap the buyer."

"Or distract him," Angus added.

"Like the Bulgari job," Hamish said.

"You mean the job that landed half the DiMarco family in a South African prison?" Kat said.

Angus shrugged. "Nobody said it was perfect.”
― Ally Carter, quote from Perfect Scoundrels

“The window can be fixed, Katerina. I'm far more concerned about him.”
― Ally Carter, quote from Perfect Scoundrels

“Sleep every chance you get. Eat every chance you get. Those were two of the many lessons that Kat learned at her father’s knee and her uncle’s table.”
― Ally Carter, quote from Perfect Scoundrels

“Will you still want me if I'm poor, Kat?"
"What kind of question is that?"
"No. Seriously. You're the planner. Simon's the genius. The Bagshaws are the muscle. And Gabrielle is . . . Gabrielle. But what am I, Kat? I'm the guy who writes the checks."
"No. You're the most naturally gifted inside man I have ever seen. And I was raised by Bobby Bishop." She made him look into her eyes. "I don't care about your money.”
― Ally Carter, quote from Perfect Scoundrels

“Wait. Far be it for me to say this" — Hamish looked around the compartment — "and if anyone tells Uncle Eddie I suggested being an upstanding citizen I'll kill 'em, but aren't there...laws and stuff? I mean, can't you...you know...sue him or something?" asked the boy who had once stolen an entire circus, all three rings.”
― Ally Carter, quote from Perfect Scoundrels

“I'll be here when you get back.”
― Ally Carter, quote from Perfect Scoundrels

“Your mother brought a strange man to this house once, Katarina. I had hoped it might be a few years before history repeated itself.”
Kat rolled her eyes at the mention of her father. “Uncle Eddie, I brought Hale home ages ago,” she reminded him; but her uncle just shook his head.
“I've known my great-niece's friend. A boyfriend, on the other hand . . . that is a most different matter.”
“Yes, sir,” Hale said. He stood up a little straighter, spoke a little louder.
“You have a powerful family, boy.”
“Yes, sir,” Hale said. “Please don't hold them against me.”
Then Eddie gave a wry smile. “Who says I was talking about them?”
― Ally Carter, quote from Perfect Scoundrels

“So this is the young man who has intentions toward my little girl." Bobby shifted in his seat and crossed his legs. "It is not fun on this side of the table, is it, Robert?" Uncle Eddie huffed, and Kat had to remember that once upon a time her mother had been a dark-haired girl in that kitchen, and her dad had been the stray she'd brought home. She watched the two men looking at Hale as if they'd never before laid eyes on him. "He's better-looking than the last vagabond I had to take in," Eddie said, standing and carrying empty bowls to the sink. "I'll give him that.”
― Ally Carter, quote from Perfect Scoundrels

“If you don't mind me saying, Mr. Hale. She's a keeper." He pointed in Kat's direction.”
― Ally Carter, quote from Perfect Scoundrels

“Hale, stop it.” Kat reached out and grabbed his arm. “You are many things, but stupid isn't one of them.”
“I'm too close.”
“You don't get it, do you? Being close is good. Caring is good. I love that you're emotional and passionate and can't turn these things off.”
“It makes me a bad thief.”
“It makes you a good person.”
― Ally Carter, quote from Perfect Scoundrels

“But Hale didn't follow. For a second he just stood and stared out over his empire. It was like he was lost in a dream when he said, "So, your dad broke into the patent office."
"Yep," Kat told him.
"How many goats am I going to owe him for that?"
"More than you've got, big guy. Way more than you've got.”
― Ally Carter, quote from Perfect Scoundrels

“Still half asleep and groggy, Kat squinted up through the shadows of the tiny space and into Hale's eyes. It was the closest they'd been in weeks. Whatever had stood between them was lost in the shadows, and Kat felt Hale's mouth press against hers. His fingers wove into her hair, holding her close, gripping her tightly. It was the hungriest kiss she'd ever known, and Kat let herself get lost in it. Forget. Tell herself that there was nothing they couldn't do as long as they were together.
But, then again, they were currently trapped in a closet on the thirty-seventh floor of a well-secured high-rise in the middle of the night, so perhaps her judgment was lacking.
“Sorry,” Hale said, breaking the kiss and pulling away.”
― Ally Carter, quote from Perfect Scoundrels

“But Hale wasn't just a member of her crew who had messed up. He was Hale. Her Hale. And Kat just wanted him back.”
― Ally Carter, quote from Perfect Scoundrels

“He's a boy, Kat. I hate to break it to you, but we are fundamentally different.”
― Ally Carter, quote from Perfect Scoundrels

“His mother got her purse. His father reached for the door.
"Scooter," he said, by way of good-bye, "have fun with your friends."
But Hale was shaking his head. He put his arm around Kat's shoulders. "She's not my friend, Dad. She's my girlfriend."
Hale's parents must have walked away, but Kat wasn't looking. She was too busy staring up at Hale, trying to see into his eyes and know if he was okay. The sadness that had lingered for weeks was fading, and the boy that held her was the boy she knew. A boy who kissed her lightly.”
― Ally Carter, quote from Perfect Scoundrels

“If you don't want to be a victim, don't act like one."
It was fairly safe to assume that that was the first time anyone had ever spoken to W. W. Hale the Fifth in that manner. Kat was also fairly certain it wouldn't be the last.
"I might lose my grandmother's company."
Kat gave a smile and held Hale tight. "You won't lose me.”
― Ally Carter, quote from Perfect Scoundrels

About the author

Popular quotes

“People always find it amusing when they see a friend suffering, Stig thought.”
― John Flanagan, quote from The Invaders

“What we have loved, others will love, and we will teach them how; instruct them how the mind of man becomes a thousand times more beautiful than the earth on which he dwells...”
― William Wordsworth, quote from Lyrical Ballads

“Forgivenesss: It's a miracle drug. It's God's miracle drug.”
― Gayle Forman, quote from I Was Here

“October Country . . . that country where it is always turning late in the year. That country where the hills are fog and the rivers are mist; where noons go quickly, dusks and twilights linger, and mid-nights stay. That country composed in the main of cellars, sub-cellars, coal-bins, closets, attics, and pantries faced away from the sun. That country whose people are autumn people, thinking only autumn thoughts. Whose people passing at night on the empty walks sound like rain. . . .”
― Ray Bradbury, quote from The October Country

“I had spent my time counterfeiting eternity, I had understood nothing.”
― Jean-Paul Sartre, quote from The Wall

Interesting books

About BookQuoters

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.

We thoughtfully gather quotes from our favorite books, both classic and current, and choose the ones that are most thought-provoking. Each quote represents a book that is interesting, well written and has potential to enhance the reader’s life. We also accept submissions from our visitors and will select the quotes we feel are most appealing to the BookQuoters community.

Founded in 2023, BookQuoters has quickly become a large and vibrant community of people who share an affinity for books. Books are seen by some as a throwback to a previous world; conversely, gleaning the main ideas of a book via a quote or a quick summary is typical of the Information Age but is a habit disdained by some diehard readers. We feel that we have the best of both worlds at BookQuoters; we read books cover-to-cover but offer you some of the highlights. We hope you’ll join us.