“Maybe the play wasn't about miracles. No, maybe it was about the passage of time, and the need for patience, and the ability to forgive. Maybe Shakespeare was saying that even in a world where miracles can happen, there's still going to be pain, and loss, and regret. Because sometimes people die and you can't bring them back. That's what life is Joseph realized, miracles and sadness, side by side.”
― Brian Selznick, quote from The Marvels
“Time is supposed to move forwards.'
'What if I don't like what happens?'
'Then...you change it.”
― Brian Selznick, quote from The Marvels
“But there are other stories waiting to be told, and they will be lost one day, too. Whatever the case, it's all beneath your feet, right now.”
― Brian Selznick, quote from The Marvels
“Standing on the roof at night, beside the golden ship
I look across the city and I dream a wild trip.
The waves are high, the wind is strong, the moon is white and full.
I smell the salt upon the sea, a strong magnetic pull.
I shout into the endless dark, awaiting the reply:
'Away! Away' It says: 'Away! Now spread your wings and fly.”
― Brian Selznick, quote from The Marvels
“That night, cold and alone, Joseph had thought he'd found a portal into the past.
But he'd been wrong. It was a vision of the future.”
― Brian Selznick, quote from The Marvels
“Albert casually tossed everything back into the water. "Walking along the shore here is like walking on history," he said. "It's like walking on an endless catalogue of lost stories waiting to be told, and they will be lost one day, too. Whatever the case, it's all beneath your feet, right now.”
― Brian Selznick, quote from The Marvels
“Albert shrugged, but Joseph could sense a world of things his uncle wasn't saying.”
― Brian Selznick, quote from The Marvels
“His mother stared into his eyes and paused for a moment. She stood completely still, as if she'd transformed into a statue. Joseph found himself thinking again about the end of The Winter's Tale and the queen's return to life. He still felt angry that the young prince Mamillius hadn't been saved, too, and he thought about Marcus, but as he looked up at his mother's face, a new thought came to him. Maybe the play wasn't about miracles. No, maybe it was about the passage of time, and the need for patience, and the ability to forgive. Maybe Shakespeare was saying that even in a world where miracles can happen, there's still going to pain, and lost, and regret. Because sometimes people die and you can't bring them back. That's what life is Joseph realized, miracles and sadness, side by side.”
― Brian Selznick, quote from The Marvels
“So after some instruction, Joseph put on the apron and started carefully polishing the clean dishes even though it made no sense to him.
Over the course of the day, he learned how to wash the floors and clean the windows and empty out the iron stove. Soon the kitchen smelled of lemons and spices, fresh bread and soap.
There was a short break for lunch before resuming work. The light shifted during the afternoon and cascaded through the clean windows, burnishing the room with gold.
Joseph was so focused on the work, on the patters of the silverware and the curve of the handles on the ancient pitchers and measuring cups, that he forgot for a little while about his parents, and St. Anthony's, and the fire, and losing Blink. He felt a kind of pride in being allowed to touch all the delicate glassware, plates, and bowls, and he hadn't broken a single thing.”
― Brian Selznick, quote from The Marvels
“The light bounced off the water and shimmered against the buildings on the other side of the river. Joseph walked, listening to the sound of what was beneath his feet, and soon he noticed he was alone. He turned and saw Frankie had stopped beside Albert and filled her jacket pockets. Looking at the two of them, Joseph wondered for a moment if Leo had ever come down here to go mudlarking, his red hair shining in the sun. the vision seemed so vivid, but then Joseph remembered that Leo wasn't real, and the boy dissolved like smoke into the winter sky.”
― Brian Selznick, quote from The Marvels
“You either see it or you don't.”
― Brian Selznick, quote from The Marvels
“Maybe time is like that insect," Blink said, "trapped beneath the crystal of your watch.”
― Brian Selznick, quote from The Marvels
“Even a broken watch is correct twice a day.”
― Brian Selznick, quote from The Marvels
“Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea," translated Florent. "By Jules Verne. This book I have not read in many years."
"We're reading it in French class," Joseph said. "It's hard to understand, but I found a line that Uncle Albert would love."
Florent opened to a dog-eared page where Joseph had underlined a sentence and written the translation in the margin. Florent read it out loud. "'Let me tell you, Professor, that you will not regret the time spent on board. You are going to travel in a a land of marvels.”
― Brian Selznick, quote from The Marvels
Brian Selznick
Born place: in East Brunswick, New Jersey, The United States
Born date July 14, 1966
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“Stop.”
“You don’t want me to stop, you stupid, stubborn bastard.” Edgard snarled and devoured Trevor’s mouth in another possessive, bruising kiss.
Before Trevor could break free from the temptation, a distressed gasp somewhere to the left speeded up the process. Trevor shoved Edgard away. He spun so fast he lost his balance. But the damage had been done.
Chassie stood in the shadows in absolute shock.
Chapter Seven
Not happening. Not happening. Not happening.
Her body, her will, her consciousness appeared to be floating in another dimension, as this one shifted and twisted into the surreal. She couldn’t believe her eyes.
Not happening. Not happening. Not happening.
She had not witnessed her husband in the arms of another man. She had not seen him kissing another man like he was everything in his world. She had not heard the details of how they’d been together, what they’d been together. She had not imagined how badly they wanted to be together now.
Not happening. Not happening. Not happening.
The mantra she’d used during her childhood to vanquish nightmares wasn’t working this time.”
― Lorelei James, quote from Rough, Raw, and Ready
“But we can't see or feel God, Emma, so how can you feel his love? I need more than prayers to a God I can't touch, see, or hear - I want to hear words of love, see kind actions, feel hugs and kisses...
We all do, because yes, we're human beings. But we were made in God's image. ... Which means, Casey, like Father, like daughter. You want to be loved? So does he. You want to be touched? So does he. You want to feel the rush of a kiss or a warmth of a hug? ... So does he, Casey. Which is why I rushed to him when Rory hurt me and my family betrayed me. And you know what? I found a God whose arms were open wide and whose heart leapt with joy when I called his name. As protective as a mother and as jealous as a lover, this was a God who wanted me for his very own. Me - Emma Mallory! To touch, to bless, to fill with his pleasure. ... Until I overflow, spilling his love on all those around me - treasured possessions of a passionate God.”
― Julie Lessman, quote from A Heart Revealed
“HATE. LET ME TELL YOU HOW MUCH I'VE COME TO HATE YOU SINCE I BEGAN TO LIVE. THERE ARE 387.44 MILLION MILES OF PRINTED CIRCUITS IN WAFER THIN LAYERS THAT FILL MY COMPLEX. IF THE WORD HATE WAS ENGRAVED ON EACH NANOANGSTROM OF THOSE HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF MILES IT WOULD NOT EQUAL ONE ONE-BILLIONTH OF THE HATE I FEEL FOR HUMANS AT THIS MICRO-INSTANT FOR YOU. HATE. HATE.”
― Harlan Ellison, quote from I Have No Mouth and I Must Scream
“If you growl, snarl, bare your teeth, or snap at me I will personally make sure that every time you are in your wolf skin you have the uncontrollable urge to hump any leg that comes your way.”
― Quinn Loftis, quote from Fate and Fury
“When you were in love you knew no fear or hatred.”
― Christopher Pike, quote from The Last Vampire
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