Quotes from Tales from the Shadowhunter Academy

“I think sometimes it's too hard to believe in yourself. You just do the things you're not sure you can do. You just act, in spite of not being certain. I don't believe I can change the world--it sounds stupid to even talk about it--but I'm going to try.”
― Cassandra Clare, quote from Tales from the Shadowhunter Academy

“Pulvis et umbra sumus," said James once, out loud in class, after hearing too many whispers. "My father says that sometimes. We are but dust and shadows. Maybe I'm just -getting a head start on all of you.”
― Cassandra Clare, quote from Tales from the Shadowhunter Academy

“But what about Isabelle?" Simon asked. "What do I do?"
"I have no idea," said Jace.
"So you just came here to torture me and talk about yourself?" Simon demanded.
"Oh, Simon, Simon, Simon," said Jace. "You may not remember, but that's kind of our thing.”
― Cassandra Clare, quote from Tales from the Shadowhunter Academy

“We all change the world, with every day of living in it," Magnus said. "You just have to decide HOW you want to change the world.”
― Cassandra Clare, quote from Tales from the Shadowhunter Academy

“Ah, there you are," said Scarsbury. "George Lovelace was beside himself. He wanted to assemble a search party for you." Simon regretted his spiteful thoughts about George's horsemanship. "Let me guess," said Simon. "Everyone else said 'Nah, being left for dead builds character.”
― Cassandra Clare, quote from Tales from the Shadowhunter Academy

“I love you. I love you without the memories. I love you right now."
Isabelle said in a calm voice, "I know."
Simon stared at her. "Was that...," he said slowly. "Was that a Star Wars reference? Because if it was, I would like to declare my love all over again.”
― Cassandra Clare, quote from Tales from the Shadowhunter Academy

“Mundanes can be heroes too," said James. "You should know that better than I. Your mother was a mundane! My father told me about all she did before she Ascended. Everyone here knows people who were mundanes. Why should we isolate people who are brave enough to try to become like us -who want to help people? Why should we treat them as if they're less than us, until they prove their worthiness or die? I won't do it.”
― Cassandra Clare, quote from Tales from the Shadowhunter Academy

“You are the flame that cannot be put out. You are the star that cannot be lost. You are who you always have been, and that is enough and more than enough. Anyone who looks at you and sees darkness is blind.”
― Cassandra Clare, quote from Tales from the Shadowhunter Academy

“Life at the Shadowunter Academy was lacking in a lot of things Simon once belived he couldn't live without: computers, music, comic books, indoor plumbing. Over the past couple of months, he'd gotten mostly used to doing without, but there was one glaring absence he still couldn't wrap his head around. Shadowhunter Academy had no nerds.”
― Cassandra Clare, quote from Tales from the Shadowhunter Academy

“Little James Herondale, age two, was in fact holding a dagger quite well. He stabbed it into a sofa cushion, sending out a burst of feathers.
"Ducks," he said, pointing at the feathers.”
― Cassandra Clare, quote from Tales from the Shadowhunter Academy

“In books and movies, people were either whisked away to a magical land in the clothes they were standing up in, or they glossed over the packing part entirely. Simon now felt he had been robbed of critical information by the media. Should he be putting the kitchen knives in his bag? Should he bring the toaster and rig it up as a weapon?”
― Cassandra Clare, quote from Tales from the Shadowhunter Academy

“Sed lex, dura lex," said Balogh. The latin phrase had been hammered into them from the first day of the Academy, and Simon was comming to hate the sound of it -so often was it used as an excuse for acting like monsters.”
― Cassandra Clare, quote from Tales from the Shadowhunter Academy

“I need a hero. I'm holding out for a hero, in fact, until the morning light. And she's gotta be sure, and it's gotta be soon - because I have been kidnapped by evil faeries - and she's gotta be larger than life”
― Cassandra Clare, quote from Tales from the Shadowhunter Academy

“The Academy days were half physical activity. It was like half the day was gym. Stabby, stabby gym.”
― Cassandra Clare, quote from Tales from the Shadowhunter Academy

“I have just come from the East End,” he said. “Something about the stories disturbed me, for more than the obvious reasons. I went there to have a look about for myself. And what happened last night proves my theory. There have been many murders recently—all of women, women who . . .”
“Prostitutes,” Tessa said.
“Quite,” Gabriel said.
“Tessa has such an extensive vocabulary,” Will said. “It is one of the most attractive things about her. Shame about yours, Gabriel.”
“Will, listen to me.” Gabriel allowed himself a long sigh.
“Spoon!” James said, running at his uncle Gabriel and jabbing him in the thigh. Gabriel mussed the boy’s hair affectionately.
“You’re such a good boy,” he said. “I often wonder how you could possibly be Will’s.”
“Spoon,” James said, leaning against his uncle’s leg lovingly.
“No, Jamie,” Will urged. “Your honorable father has been impugned. Attack, attack!”
― Cassandra Clare, quote from Tales from the Shadowhunter Academy

“Simon opened the door and was not surprised to find Jace standing outside of it.
“Here,” Simon said, handing him the letter.
“Took you long enough,” Jace said.
“Now we’re even,” said Simon. “Go party in the Herondale house with your weird family.”
“I plan to,” said Jace, and smiled a sudden, strangely endearing smile. He had a chipped tooth. The smile made him seem like he was Simon’s age, and maybe they were friends after all. “Good night, Wiggles.”
“Wiggles?”
“Yes, Wiggles. Your nickname? It’s what you always made us call you. I almost forgot your name was Simon, I’m so used to calling you Wiggles.”
“Wiggles? What does that . . . even mean?”
“You would never explain,” Jace said with a shrug. “It was the big mystery about you. As I said, good night, Wiggles. I’ll take care of this.”
He held up the letter and used it to make a salute.
Simon shut the door. He knew most people on the hall had probably done everything they could to make sure they heard that exchange. He knew that in the morning he would be called Wiggles and there was nothing he would ever be able to do about it.
But it was a small price to pay to get a letter to Isabelle.”
― Cassandra Clare, quote from Tales from the Shadowhunter Academy

“I love you unconditionally,' his mom had said, once or twice, when he was younger. 'That's how parents love. I love you no matter what.' People said thing like that, without thinking of potential nightmare scenarios or horrific conditions, the whole changing and love slipping away. None of them ever dreamed love would be tested, and fail.”
― Cassandra Clare, quote from Tales from the Shadowhunter Academy

“But I know your blood doesn't define you. What defines you is the choices you make. If I've learned anything this year, it's that. And I also know that loving someone--even when it's scary, even when there are consequences--is never the wrong thing to do. Loving someone is the opposite of hurting her.”
― Cassandra Clare, quote from Tales from the Shadowhunter Academy

“He waved good-bye to all these people he barely knew, and somehow loved anyway, and he hoped they could not tell how relived he was to be going.”
― Cassandra Clare, quote from Tales from the Shadowhunter Academy

“He pulled off the shirt....which read "LET'S FIGHT!" and below in tiny letters "OUR ENEMY OFF WITH CUNNING ARGUMENTS.”
― Cassandra Clare, quote from Tales from the Shadowhunter Academy

“Simon picked a dagger completely at random, then sat at his desk waggling it about.
Jon nodded to it. “Nice.”
“Yeah,” Simon said, nodding back and gesturing with it. “That’s what I thought. Nice. Very stabby.”
He stabbed the dagger into the desk, where it got stuck and Simon had to pry it out of the wood.”
― Cassandra Clare, quote from Tales from the Shadowhunter Academy

“Though I realize that you are both a little annoyed with me, and this might not be the time to shower myself with praise," Jace said slowly, "honesty compels me to tell you: Yes. Yes, I do think I am hilarious. 'There goes Jace Herondale,' people say. 'Cutting wit, and also totally cut. It's a burden Simon could never understand.”
― Cassandra Clare, quote from Tales from the Shadowhunter Academy

“Good night, Wiggles.” “Wiggles?” “Yes, Wiggles. Your nickname? It’s what you always made us call you. I almost forgot your name was Simon, I’m so used to calling you Wiggles.” “Wiggles? What does that . . . even mean?” “You would never explain,” Jace said with a shrug. “It was the big mystery about you. As I said, good night, Wiggles. I’ll take care of this.”
― Cassandra Clare, quote from Tales from the Shadowhunter Academy

“Izzy -I don't know why you'd wait for me, but if you do, I promise to make myself worth that wait. Or I'll try. I can promise I am going to try.”
― Cassandra Clare, quote from Tales from the Shadowhunter Academy

“Why should we isolate people who are brave enough to try to become like us--who want to help people? Why should we treat them as if they're less than us, until they prove their worthiness or die? I won't do it.”
― Cassandra Clare, quote from Tales from the Shadowhunter Academy

“When he let go of Clary, he turned and hugged Jace. Clary watched, tears running down her face.
“Oof,” said Jace, sounding extremely startled, but he patted Simon quickly on the back.
Simon supposed they usually fist-bumped or something. He did not know the warrior way of being bros: Eric was a big hugger. He decided it would probably be good for Jace, and ruffled his hair a little for emphasis before stepping away.”
― Cassandra Clare, quote from Tales from the Shadowhunter Academy

“Every student, no matter how inexperienced or advanced, wa expected to report to the training field at sunrise for a grueling hour of calisthenics. 'Divided we stand,' Simon thought, his stubborn biceps refusing to bulge. 'United we do push-ups.”
― Cassandra Clare, quote from Tales from the Shadowhunter Academy

“We are all our past have made us. The accumulation of thousands of daily choices. We can change ourselves, but never erase what we've been. Forgetting those choices doesn't unmake them.”
― Cassandra Clare, quote from Tales from the Shadowhunter Academy

“They shared a small moment of bizarre, companionable silence -they boy who'd forgotten everything about his history, and the boy who'd never known it.”
― Cassandra Clare, quote from Tales from the Shadowhunter Academy

“But the suspension of disbelief could only go so far.”
― Cassandra Clare, quote from Tales from the Shadowhunter Academy

About the author

Popular quotes

“How was it possible to miss someone when they were standing right next to you?”
― Samantha Young, quote from Smokeless Fire

“The door was locked, but that didn’t deter him. He pulled her tight against him, her back against his chest, his breath loud and moist in her ear. His arm was locked about her waist — he was surprisingly strong, despite his doughy appearance — and he fumbled her skirts again. He wanted her to struggle. He wanted her to cry, to beg, to be terrified.”
― Y.S. Lee, quote from The Traitor in the Tunnel

“There is perhaps no surer way of infecting ourselves with virulent hatred toward a person than by doing him a grave injustice.”
― Eric Hoffer, quote from The True Believer: Thoughts on the Nature of Mass Movements

“ I gave the prescribed Metropolitan Police "first greeting".
"Oi!" I said "What do you think you're doing?”
― Ben Aaronovitch, quote from Midnight Riot

“Inertia propulsion!” Pierre exclaimed. “On our last shift we were teaching them Newton’s law of gravity. Today they have inertia drives! Where will they be tomorrow?” “They probably will be able to control space and time and won’t have to bother with such clumsy things as black hole gravity generators and inertia drives,” Amalita replied. “But now I see why we were so awkward. Their main spacecraft will stay fifteen meters away from our spacecraft, but it is so massive that we will experience about one-third of a gee from it, pulling me out of the console chair and over to the viewing port. I guess I could manage to twirl once as I fall so they can see the human joints in action, but I bet I am going to be clumsier in one-third gee than that animation.” She turned from the screen and looked at him, “I wish you were doing my part, so I could get to see the cheela.” “I don’t know whether you would like it,” Pierre said. “According to this contour plot of the gravity field from the individual craft, although the size and mass of the flitters are much smaller than the main spacecraft, this one is going to come up to less than one meter from my viewing port and my nose is going to be pulling three gees!” He looked down at her body and grinned, “I guess the reason they didn’t choose you is they must know you don’t wear a bra in free-fall and they didn’t want to give you reverse Cooper’s droop.” Amalita turned back to the display, jabbing him with her elbow as she did so, and brought up the next screen full of instructions.”
― Robert L. Forward, quote from Dragon's Egg

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.