Trenton Lee Stewart · 440 pages
Rating: (36.2K votes)
“May your adventures bring you closer together, even as they take you far away from home.”
― Trenton Lee Stewart, quote from The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Perilous Journey
“Did the men steal the papers?" Reynie asked, fearing her response.
No, because they are fools," Sophie said bitterly. "They demanded to see the papers, and when I did not answer fast enough -- they were very frightening, you see -- they hurt me so that I was not awake. . . . When I opened my eyes they were still trying to find the papers. They did not understand how we organize the library, you see. They were angry and creating a bad mess. . . . The police were coming and the men decided they must leave. I shouted at them as they left: 'It is a free and public library! All you had to do was ask!”
― Trenton Lee Stewart, quote from The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Perilous Journey
“I hope you haven't given up on the S.Q.'s of the world, Reynie. As you see, there are a great many sheep in wolves' clothing. If not for S.Q.'s good nature, we'd never have escaped.”
― Trenton Lee Stewart, quote from The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Perilous Journey
“Kate seemed to have doubled in size. She had drawn back her broad shoulders and set her jaw, and something in the stance called to mind the contained ferocity of a lioness. But it was the fierceness in Kate's bright blue eyes that had the most striking effect. The sort of look that made you thankful she wasn't your enemy. "It's not going to be over," Kate said firmly "Until we say so.”
― Trenton Lee Stewart, quote from The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Perilous Journey
“You were brave to do what you did," he said slowly. "And I know you did it out of live for our friends. But if you ever do something like this again, I can promise you that Ten Men and Executives are going to be the least of your worries- do you understand?" His espression was very severe, his jaw was set, and his words were clipped and terse as if spoken with much suppressed anger. Kate burst out laughing. "Milligan," she said, "I'll bet you scare the wits out of bad guys, but as a dad you don't scare anyone very much." "She's right." Constance said. "I can tell you aren't really angry." Milligan frowned and looked at Reynie, but Reynie averted his eyes to avoid disappointing him- for he, too, had been unfazed by Milligan's stern admonition. Only Sticky, furiously polishing his spectacles in the back seat, showed the effect Milligan had hoped for. But Sticky was easily unnerved and could hardly be used as a measure. "Well," Milligan said, his face relaxing. "At least I tried."
"... Speaking of which, the boys weren't actually touching the breifcases in the trunk, I hope?" Wondering how Milligan knew, Kate stuck her head out the office door and gave Reynie and Sticky a warning look. They nodded and tried to close the trunk as quietly as possible. "They aren't now anyway." "Good," Milligan said, picking up his duffel bag. "I'd hate to have to speak sternly to them again. It embarasses me to be so ineffective.”
― Trenton Lee Stewart, quote from The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Perilous Journey
“Good grief! They're going to call us inside soon, and Sticky hasn't even met Madge yet!"
"Who's Madge?" Sticky asked.
"Her Majesty the Queen!”
― Trenton Lee Stewart, quote from The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Perilous Journey
“You know what i like about buttons? They're very small things that hold bigger things together. Awfully important, buttons - little but strong.”
― Trenton Lee Stewart, quote from The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Perilous Journey
“So began one of the fiercest and strangest battles ever fought, a battle that involved all manner of business supplies, elegant clothing and accessories, and no shortage of trickery and taunts.”
― Trenton Lee Stewart, quote from The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Perilous Journey
“It's not going to be over until we say so.”
― Trenton Lee Stewart, quote from The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Perilous Journey
“but is it not heartening to know that so many are willing to fight for the good? Think of that young librarian, Sophie, who made certain you escaped. Think of S.Q., who risked my brother’s wrath to make me more comfortable. Think of Captain Noland, and Joe Shooter, and all the others – even strangers – who were prepared to sacrifice their safety, perhaps even their lives, on our behalf. That’s something, is it not?”
― Trenton Lee Stewart, quote from The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Perilous Journey
“Sights, smells, temperature changes—all sorts of stuff. We notice it without consciously thinking about it. He says we may not be paying attention, but our brains are recording and processing it all the same, and these… these observations, or whatever you want to call them, make up a pattern. So if you’re good with patterns, the way Mr. Benedict says I am, you can sometimes predict things.”
― Trenton Lee Stewart, quote from The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Perilous Journey
“It’s natural that you feel as you do, Reynie. There is much more to the world than most children—indeed, most adults—ever see or know. And where most people see mirrors, you, my friend, see windows. By which I mean there is always something beyond the glass.”
― Trenton Lee Stewart, quote from The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Perilous Journey
“There was a unique pleasure in knowing a friend so well, Reynie reflected, rather like sharing a secret code.”
― Trenton Lee Stewart, quote from The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Perilous Journey
“And I realize there's no shortage of wickedness in the world," said Mr. Benedict, with a significant look at Reynie, "but is it not heartening to know that so many are willing to fight for the good?”
― Trenton Lee Stewart, quote from The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Perilous Journey
“It’s not going to be over,” Kate said firmly, “until we say so.”
― Trenton Lee Stewart, quote from The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Perilous Journey
“I miss those days, don’t you? I mean, except for the terrible parts.”
― Trenton Lee Stewart, quote from The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Perilous Journey
“can this bird have to do with the kidnapping?” Kate asked. The”
― Trenton Lee Stewart, quote from The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Perilous Journey
“promise not to harm any of the children for the time being—but only if you answer at once. That is my offer. Shall I put on my gloves, or…?” “That won’t be necessary,” Mr. Benedict said. “Just make the promise.” “I promise,” said Mr. Curtain. He gave Constance a sly look. “Am I telling the truth, my dear?”
― Trenton Lee Stewart, quote from The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Perilous Journey
“I think we should all earn our place in the world. [...] We owe the world something. We owe the world everything.”
― Rachel Vincent, quote from With All My Soul
“You are my Guardian Angel, Maddy,” a voice said, but it was far away from her.”
― Scott Speer, quote from Immortal City
“Where is it written that one should only care about big things?”
― David Brin, quote from The Postman
“Get Comfortable Not Knowing There once was a village that had among its people a very wise old man. The villagers trusted this man to provide them answers to their questions and concerns. One day, a farmer from the village went to the wise man and said in a frantic tone, “Wise man, help me. A horrible thing has happened. My ox has died and I have no animal to help me plow my field! Isn’t this the worst thing that could have possibly happened?” The wise old man replied, “Maybe so, maybe not.” The man hurried back to the village and reported to his neighbors that the wise man had gone mad. Surely this was the worst thing that could have happened. Why couldn’t he see this? The very next day, however, a strong, young horse was seen near the man’s farm. Because the man had no ox to rely on, he had the idea to catch the horse to replace his ox—and he did. How joyful the farmer was. Plowing the field had never been easier. He went back to the wise man to apologize. “You were right, wise man. Losing my ox wasn’t the worst thing that could have happened. It was a blessing in disguise! I never would have captured my new horse had that not happened. You must agree that this is the best thing that could have happened.” The wise man replied once again, “Maybe so, maybe not.” Not again, thought the farmer. Surely the wise man had gone mad now. But, once again, the farmer did not know what was to happen. A few days later the farmer’s son was riding the horse and was thrown off. He broke his leg and would not be able to help with the crop. Oh no, thought the man. Now we will starve to death. Once again, the farmer went to the wise man. This time he said, “How did you know that capturing my horse was not a good thing? You were right again. My son is injured and won’t be able to help with the crop. This time I’m sure that this is the worst thing that could have possibly happened. You must agree this time.” But, just as he had done before, the wise man calmly looked at the farmer and in a compassionate tone replied once again, “Maybe so, maybe not.” Enraged that the wise man could be so ignorant, the farmer stormed back to the village. The next day troops arrived to take every able-bodied man to the war that had just broken out. The farmer’s son was the only young man in the village who didn’t have to go. He would live, while the others would surely die. The moral of this story provides a powerful lesson. The truth is, we don’t know what’s going to happen—we just think we do. Often we make a big deal out of something. We blow up scenarios in our minds about all the terrible things that are going to happen. Most of the time we are wrong. If we keep our cool and stay open to possibilities, we can be reasonably certain that, eventually, all will be well. Remember: maybe so, maybe not.”
― Richard Carlson, quote from Don't Sweat the Small Stuff ... and it's all small stuff: Simple Ways to Keep the Little Things from Taking Over Your Life
“Everything is illegal. Whenever it needs to be illegal it is. ”
― William C. Samples, quote from Fe Fi FOE Comes
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