The Rithmatist

... everyone knows that ice cream is worth the trouble of being cold. Like all things virtuous, you have to suffer to gain the reward.

Joel, lad, school is about learning to learn. If you don't practice studying things you don't like, then you'll have a very hard time in life.

The most dangerous kind of man is not the one who spent his youth shoving others around. That kind of man gets lazy, and is often too content with his life to be truly dangerous. The man who spent his youth being shoved around, however … When that man gets a little power and authority, he often uses it to become a tyrant on par with the worst warlords in history.

we're all freaks sometimes, Melody," he replied. "You're just... well, better at it than most.

That was terribly thoughtless of you. What good is having friends if they don’t put you in mortal peril every once in a while?

Not having ice cream,” she proclaimed, “is the culmination of all disasters!

It's going to be painful." "It's a fun tradition." "So was witch-burning," Melody said. "Unless you were the witch.

My life," Melody declared, "is a tragedy.

It had been eight years. The pain of loss was still there. It never went away. It just got buried in time, like a rock slowly being covered over by dirt.

Well, that’s because they’re wrong and I’m right. No more reading for you. Let’s go get some ice cream.” “I don’t know if the kitchen has any,” Joel said. “It’s hard to get in the summers, and—” “Not from the kitchen, stupid,” Melody said, rolling her eyes. “From the parlor out on Knight Street.” “Oh. I’ve … never been there.” “What! That’s a tragedy.” “Melody, everything is a tragedy to you.” “Not having ice cream,” she proclaimed, “is the culmination of all disasters! That’s it. No more discussion. We’re going. Follow.

Tantrums are a noble and time-tested strategy,she said airily. Particularly if you have a good set of lungs and are facing down a crotchety old priest. I know Stewart; he always bends if you make enough noise.

I'm like that," she said. "Wild mood swings. It makes me more interesting.

Librarians seemed to have a sixth sense for noticing when students were doing things they weren't supposed to.

He gritted his teeth, frustrated with himself, but there was nothing he could do about years past. Perhaps he could change the future.

Parents are unpredictable when their children are involved,” Harding said. “I’d much rather fight a squadron of Forgotten than deal with an affluent mother who thinks her son is in danger.

What’s wrong with unicorns?” she demanded from behind him, her chalk sounding as it scraped the ground. “They’re a noble and—” “They’re a noble and incredibly girly animal,” Joel said. “I’ve got my masculine reputation to think of.” “Oh hush, you,” she said. “You’ll deal with unicorns—maybe some flower people and a pegasus or two—and you’ll like it. Otherwise, you can just go draw your own circle, thank you very much.

So much about life was disappointment. He often wondered how humankind endured so long, and if the few moments when things went right really made up for all the rest.

school is about learning to learn. If you don’t practice studying things you don’t like, then you’ll have a very hard time in life.

Don’t you know how to use chopsticks?” Joel asked. Melody grimaced. “I’ve never been one for European food. A fork works just fine.

What! That’s a tragedy.” “Melody, everything is a tragedy to you.” “Not having ice cream,” she proclaimed, “is the culmination of all disasters! That’s it. No more discussion. We’re going. Follow.

It won’t be cold in the parlor,” she said. “Or … well, maybe it will. But everyone knows that ice cream is worth the trouble of being cold. Like all things virtuous, you have to suffer to gain the reward.

I don't know what to say," Joel said. "I figure that if you are there, you'll be angry if I claim to believe when I don't. The truth is, I'm not sure I don't believe, either. You might be there. I hope you are, I guess.

Though I believe it's beyond the power of any mortal to completely relieve my prose of typos.