Quotes from Something Strange and Deadly

Susan Dennard ·  388 pages

Rating: (12.3K votes)


“Miss Fitt, you know curiosity gets men killed."
I grinned. "Then I daresay it's good I'm a woman.”
― Susan Dennard, quote from Something Strange and Deadly


“Can't say I'm surprised you were here. You have the curiosity of a cat and the common sense of a goldfish.”
― Susan Dennard, quote from Something Strange and Deadly


“Even the greatest feats of man lose their luster when one's head is filled with storm clouds.”
― Susan Dennard, quote from Something Strange and Deadly


“The devil can cite Scripture for his purpose."
"And the foolish can cite Shakespeare.”
― Susan Dennard, quote from Something Strange and Deadly


“Don't think I'll look after you, though-the world would be better off with one less princess."

"I'm not a princess," I huffed, beating my brain for some worthy retort.

"A queen then?"

"No! That's not what I meant-"

"Oh, an empress. I see. Pardon me, Your Majesty." He swooped into a crouched bow, and when his torso sprang back up,a smile floated at the edge of his lips.

"N-no, not an empress either. I-I'm just..." The more I stuttered, the more pompous his smile became.

"You're exasperating," I finally groaned.”
― Susan Dennard, quote from Something Strange and Deadly



“Curiosity is a strong fire, and once ignited, it is not easily put out.”
― Susan Dennard, quote from Something Strange and Deadly


“Just before Jie and Daniel reached the street, Daniel stopped. He twirled around and gazed up at me, as if he had sensed my eyes on his back. He strode a few steps toward me, paused, and then strode two more.
He slung off his cap and pressed it to his chest. Then,with the casual grace that marked all of his movements, he dropped to one knee and bowed his head.
He was declaring fealty to his empress.
I laughed-I couldn't help it. The absurdity of it all. The bittersweet sting.When he lifted back up, I saw he too wore a smile.He waved with his cap, and after flopping it back on his head, he swiveled and trotted to the street. Then,without another look back, the Spirit-Hunters left.”
― Susan Dennard, quote from Something Strange and Deadly


“I brandished my parasol at him like a rapier. "You, sir, are an abominable scalawag of a man, and I'll be damned if I let you threaten me.”
― Susan Dennard, quote from Something Strange and Deadly


“You have the curiosity of a cat and common sense of a goldfish.”
― Susan Dennard, quote from Something Strange and Deadly


“The fault is not in our stars," I whispered to the ceiling. "But in ourselves. This was my choice.”
― Susan Dennard, quote from Something Strange and Deadly



“Why do you ask?"
"Because I can."
"You can what?"
"I can go in the private collection!" I scurried toward him. "My father had a lifetime subscriptioin, Mr. Sheridan, and not just that, but he had special privileges. I'm certain I could use his name to get you into the private collection."
Daniel's jaw fell. "Why didn't you say so before?"
"What?" I recoiled. "How was I supposed to know you needed it?"
"We could've gone ages ago!"
My enthusiasm transformed into outrage. "In that case, why didn't you say you needed it?"
"Because I didn't know you had a subscription!"
"Aha!" I cried, thrusting a finger at him. "Your argument's a circle!"
Daniel sprang up. "We wasted all this time-"
"Silence!" Joseph roared. "You are like squawking parrots, and I have had quite enough. Miss Fitt, I would ask that you take Mr. Sheridan to the library immediately. Daniel, I would ask that you keep that big mouth of yours silent.”
― Susan Dennard, quote from Something Strange and Deadly


“What did you drop?"
"Nothing. Stand aside, Empress."
"So you were hiding."
He set his jaw, and I noticed his face was freshly shaved. It made his skin look soft.
"I've places to be," he growled. "So if you don't step outta my way, I will move your imperial figure myself.”
― Susan Dennard, quote from Something Strange and Deadly


“Whatever mischief you're up to, I'll be there for it. Besides, someone must ensure that you behave like a lady."
I skittered to a stop. "Like a lady? Which is how exactly?" My voice was shrill. He had picked a poor moment to antagonize me.
"Biddable."
"Biddable? Biddable!" Somehow my pitch was even screechier than before. I kicked my bottom high and dipped my chest low-a perfect display of the Grecian bend. "It it's a camel you wish to have,sir,then you are on the wrong continent!”
― Susan Dennard, quote from Something Strange and Deadly


“Eleanor," Daniel said. "Miss Fitt! Wake up!"
I fluttered my eyelids open. "I'm not a misfit anymore," I rasped. "I thought I told you that.”
― Susan Dennard, quote from Something Strange and Deadly


“I can't believe she listened to you." I turned a wide-eyed gaze on Clarence.
A grin tugged at his lips. "Yes, I imagine I'm the only person she'll listen to."
"Well,I'm impressed." A warmth eased through my body. Despite his perfect features, he was not so difficult to talk to.
"No doubt you'd do the same with your brother."
"Not precisely." I smiled ruefully. "To be honest, I don't take orders well."
"Then I shall be sure I never give you any.”
― Susan Dennard, quote from Something Strange and Deadly



“Miss Fitt, you know curiosity gets men killed."
I grinned. "Then I daresay it's good I'm a woman."
He groaned-an amused sound. "No wonder Allie finds you confusing. You've a retort for everything."
"No,only for Wilcoxes."
He rolled his head back and laughed. "All right, all right. If you promise to keep my secrets and enjoy this drive"-he opened his hands to gesture at the sun-dappled carriageway before us-"then I will explain."
I blinked. Really? All it took to get an answer was a witty turn of phrase? It only it were that simple with men like Daniel Sheridan.”
― Susan Dennard, quote from Something Strange and Deadly


“Mama forbade me to attend the Exhibition after an over-heating spell, yet she insisted I gallivant in the park in the midafternoon sun. I almost wanted to pass out again just to spite her.”
― Susan Dennard, quote from Something Strange and Deadly


“They each wore ill-fitting black suits and well-fitting black scowls.”
― Susan Dennard, quote from Something Strange and Deadly


“So tell me, Miss Fitt, do you know when your brother will return?"
"No." I wet my lips. "Do you know Elijah?"
He looked off to the right. "I know of your brother."
"Oh?"
"Of course." He folded his arms over his chest and returned his gaze to me. "Everyone knows of the Philadelphia Fitts.I even know of you."
"You mean Allison told you about me."
His lips twitched. "Certainly."
I stroked my amethysts and made my expression passive. I didn't care one whit about her gossip-though I did wish she wouldn't talk about me to Clarence. I'd prefer if eligible young men learned my faults after meeting me.
He flashed his eyebrows playfully, as if knowing where my thoughts had gone. "You needn't worry. She's said nothing unkind. She finds you amusing-she likes to talk, you know?"
"I hadn't noticed," I said flatly. Saying Allison loved to gossip was like saying birds enjoyed flying. It was not so much a hobby as part of her physiology.
Clarence's smile expanded, and his eyes crinkled. "Apparently there was an insult you gave her a few days ago, though...She had to ask me what it meant."
My face warmed, and I looked away. "I believe I might have called her a spoiled Portia with no concept of mercy."
He laughed and hit his knee. "That's right. Portia's speech on mercy in the final act of The Merchant of Venice. Allie had no idea what you meant."
"In my defense, she was taunting me-"
"With no mercy?"
"Something like that," I mumbled, embarrassed he'd heard abou tit.
"Oh,I have no doubt. One of Allie's charms is her childish teasing." He laughed again and shook his head. "Next time, though, I suggest you use less obscure insults. They might hit their mark better.

― Susan Dennard, quote from Something Strange and Deadly


“So,Miss Fitt," Clarence said once we turned onto a tree-lined road beside the river, "you are no doubt wondering why I invited you out."
I swatted the ribbon from my eyes. "And here I assumed it was my unsurpassable good looks."
He chuckled. "That was, of course, part of my motivation."
"Only part?" I slid my gaze left and watched him from the corner of my eye. "Well then,the rest of your reason must be that bribe you mentioned the other evening."
"Something like that.”
― Susan Dennard, quote from Something Strange and Deadly



“How could I dream when I knew I could act instead.”
― Susan Dennard, quote from Something Strange and Deadly


“How long have you been standing here?"
"Only a moment." I fluttered my lashes. I am as innocent as a baby bird, I tried to say with my eyes.
"Really." He spoke it as a statement, and frowned. "You know, eavesdropping is most unladylike."
My jaw dropped. "Eavesdropping? I was doing no such thing."
"No?"
"Certainly not, Mr. Wilcox. And false accusations are most un...most un-manly-like." The retort was a stuttered failure, but I puffed out my chest anyway. "What were you doing outside?"
"Getting fresh air."
My eyebrows shot up as if to say "Really?" He squinted at me, and I glowered back.”
― Susan Dennard, quote from Something Strange and Deadly


“While Mary brushed my pistachio silk carriage dress, Mama tugged the laces of my corset as tight as they would go. She grunted and I groaned, and we sounded like the giant hogs I'd seen at the zoo-except that, rather than play in the mud and eat to my heart's content, I was forced to sit daintily in the parlor without lunch. For two hours. With my mother for company.”
― Susan Dennard, quote from Something Strange and Deadly


“To pile on the agony, once we reached Shantytown-a collection of shacks around the Exhibition that fed off the scraps of rich tourists—the ribbon on my bonnet decided today was the day it wanted freedom. It dangled before my face in a taunting display of rebellion.”
― Susan Dennard, quote from Something Strange and Deadly


“even the greatest feats of man lose their luster when one’s head is filled with storm clouds.”
― Susan Dennard, quote from Something Strange and Deadly



About the author

Susan Dennard
Born place: in The United States
Born date February 25, 1984
See more on GoodReads

Popular quotes

“My mother said once that we were all hers already. We just hadn't found each other before.”
― Nora Roberts, quote from Inner Harbor


“Tu nie ma wody tu jest tylko skała
Skała bez wody i piaszczysta droga
Droga wijąca się wśród gór nad nami
Między skałami głazami bez wody
Gdyby tu była woda stanąłbym i pił
Lecz pośród skał nie można myśleć ani stać
Suchy jest pot a stopy grzęzną w piachu
Gdyby tu woda spływała ze skał
Martwa jest paszcza gór spróchniałe zęby pluć nie mogą
Tutaj nie można usiąść leżeć ani stać
I ciszy nawet nie ma w górach
Tylko bezpłodny suchy grzmot bez deszczu
I samotności nawet nie ma w górach
Tylko posępne czerwone twarze - drwią i szydzą
W drzwiach lepianek z popękanej gliny
Gdyby tu była woda
A nie skała
Gdyby tu była skała
Ale i woda
I woda
Źródło
Sadzawka wśród skał
Gdyby tu był chociażby wody dźwięk
A nie cykada
I śpiew suchych traw
Ale na skale wody dźwięk
Gdzie drozd-pustelnik śpiewa pośród sosen
Krop kap krop kap kap kap kap
Ale tu nie ma wody

Kim jest ten trzeci, który zawsze idzie obok ciebie?
Gdy liczę nas, jesteśmy tylko ty i ja
Lecz gdy spoglądam przed siebie w biel drogi
Zawsze ktoś jeszcze idzie obok ciebie,
Stąpa spowity płaszczem brunatnym, w kapturze
Nie wiem czy jest to kobieta czy mąż
- Kim jest ten, który idzie po twej drugiej stronie?

Co to za dźwięki wysoko w powietrzu
Pomruk matczynych lamentów
Co to za hordy w kapturach, jak roje
Na bezkresnych równinach, utykają na spękanej ziemi
Otoczonej jedynie płaskim horyzontem
Co to za miasto nad łańcuchem gór
Pęka i zrasta się i rozpryskuje - w fioletowym wietrze
Walące się wieże
Jeruzalem Ateny Aleksandria
Wiedeń Londyn
Nierzeczywiste”
― T.S. Eliot, quote from The Wasteland, Prufrock and Other Poems


“Human beings are more alike than different—damn sure more alike than we like to admit. I wonder if the same thing wouldn’t have happened eventually, no matter which two cultures gained the ability to wipe one another out along with the rest of the world.” Lilith”
― Octavia E. Butler, quote from Dawn


“What’s important is the time we spent working on it together. What’s important is that Sam is the kind of guy who will trade notes on a sketchpad and teach me how to make tuna melts and drop everything to drive to a parking lot
when I need him and throw stones at my window to make sure I’m okay.”
― Hannah Harrington, quote from Speechless


“The world was fucking awful. It was a wretched, desolate place, a desert of meaninglessness, a heartless wasteland, where horrific things happened all the time for no reason and nothing good lasted for long.

He'd been right about the world, but he was wrong about himself. The world was a desert, but he was a magician, and to be a magician was to be a secret spring - a moving oasis. He wasn't desolate, and he wasn't empty. He was full of emotion, full of feelings, bursting with them, and when it came down to it, that's what being a magician was.
They weren't ordinary feelings - they weren't the tame, domesticated kind. Magic was wild feelings, the kind that escaped out of you and into the world and changed things. There was a lot of skill to it, and a lot of learning, and a lot of work, but that was where the power began: the power to enchant the world.”
― Lev Grossman, quote from The Magician's Land


Interesting books

London is the Best City in America
(2.4K)
London is the Best C...
by Laura Dave
Beauty for Ashes: Receiving Emotional Healing
(2.1K)
Beauty for Ashes: Re...
by Joyce Meyer
The Hidden Hand
(1.2K)
The Hidden Hand
by E.D.E.N. Southworth
The Anatomy of Peace: Resolving the Heart of Conflict
(6.7K)
The Anatomy of Peace...
by The Arbinger Institute
Company
(5.4K)
Company
by Max Barry
This Book Will Save Your Life
(8.4K)
This Book Will Save...
by A.M. Homes

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.