Diane Duane Quotes & Sayings

When honor dies - when trust is a useless thing - what use is life? — Diane Duane

I'm lying on a Star Wars bedspread," said a dry voice behind them, "Will I ever be able to look myself in the eye again?"
They all turned.
"By the fact that I'm not on Rashah," Ronan said, looking about him, "but instead apparently in suburban hell, and in contact with this dubious cultural artifact, I take it we won? — Diane Duane

But the trouble with sainthood these days is the robe-and-halo imagery that gets stuck onto it." Carl got that brooding look again. "People forget that robes were street clothes once ... and still are, in a lot of places. And halos are to that fierce air of innocence what speech balloons in comics are to the sound of the voice itself. Shorthand. But most people just see an old symbol and don't bother looking behind it for the meaning. Sainthood starts to look old-fashioned, unattainable ... even repellent. Actually, you can see it all around, once you learn to spot it. — Diane Duane

If you see an injustice, and don't move to right it when you have a chance, history won't forget that, either. — Diane Duane

There is nothing little," she said with great dignity, "about my husband." Sarek did not at first understand the amused ripple that went through the crowd of reporters standing around. Certainly he was tall by Earth standards. He had to have it explained to him, — Diane Duane

Kit gave the Pig a look. "Oh, come on! The Powers..." His voice trailed off as the Pig gave him the same look right back. "I mean, the One... wouldn't play jokes--"

"Wouldn't It?" said the Transcendent Pig. "Been out in the real world lately? — Diane Duane

Blood in the water I sing, and one who shed it: deadliest hunger I sing, and one who fed it- weaving the ancient-most tale of the Sea's sending: singing the tragedy, singing the joy unending This is our shame- this is the whole Ocean's glory: this is the Song of the Twelve. Hark to the story! Hearken, and bring it to pass: swift lest the sorrow long ago laid to it's rest devour us tomarrow! — Diane Duane

Knowing is most of my job," the Transcendent Pig said. "But then there's a long tradition of oracular pigs. I should know: I started it." It paused. "That is, assuming you're into sequential time."
"It works all right for me," Nita said, rather cautiously.
"Well, preference is everything, as far as time's concerned; you can handle it however you like. — Diane Duane

Yeah, I know, the Mars thing. I've been meaning to talk to you about that. When did you get the idea it would be cute to carve my dad's cell-phone number on a rock in the middle of Syrtis Major? He hates it when people call me on his phone."
Kit gave Nita a resigned look. "Sorry," he said, "I couldn't resist. — Diane Duane

And to the Pig he said, "What's the meaning of life?"

"You know, a friend of yours was asking me the same thing the other day," said the Transcendent Pig, ambling over, sitting down, and looking Ponch over in an amiable way. "Is asking," it added. — Diane Duane

You walk on water, and complain that you can't find anything to drink! — Diane Duane

Virtue," he said. "The real thing. It's not some kind of cuddly teddy bear you can keep on the shelf until you need a hug. It's dangerous, which is why it makes people so nervous. Virtue has its own agenda, and believe me, it's not always yours. The word itself means strength, power. And when it gets loose, you'd better watch out."
Something bad might happen ... "
Impossible. But possibly something painful"
-A Wizard Alone by Diane Duane — Diane Duane

It was the Arch-votary, with its patterned shell. Slowly, it approached; those massive claws raised ... The Arch-votary stopped, looming up before them. "Evil ones," it said, "enemies of the Great One, come and be judged."
Roshaun raised his head and gave the Arch-votary an inexpressibly haughty look. "Killed, perhaps," he said, "But your dark Master has neither authority nor right to judge us. Therefore, stand away, lackey, and keep silent in the presence of your betters. — Diane Duane

Kit," said a female voice, "what's wrong with the fridge? All the food's gone. No, wait, there's a really ugly alien in here disguised as a leaky lettuce. Hey, I guess I shouldn't be rude to it; it's a visitor. Welcome to our planet, Mr. Alien!"
This was followed by some muffled remark that Nita couldn't make out, possibly something Kit was saying. A moment later, Kit's sister Carmela's voice came out of Nita's refrigerator again. "Hola, Nita, are your phone bills getting too big? This is a weird way to deal with it ... — Diane Duane

One of the creatures in the front circle shook itself all over and, still shaking, moved very, very slowly toward Spock. He didn't move a muscle. The creature put out a long slender pseudopod, gleaming in the sunshine like suddenly blown glass, and poked Spock's boot with it. Then it made the scratchy sound again, more laughter, and said a word: "Gotcha!" It jumped back into place. All the other creatures began to echo the scratch-laughter. Spock looked around him in mild bemusement. "Captain," he said, "I suspect we have found a kindergarten ... — Diane Duane

Those who want war will find causes, no matter how many of them you take away. — Diane Duane

There's something odd about the primary's flare pattern."
"Wouldn't be surprised," Dairine said. "I chucked a black hole into it."
Roshaun put his eyebrows up. "Stars in your neighborhood seem to have a rough time of it."
"If ours acts weird, talk to Nita," Dairine said, rather annoyed. "First time it went out was on her watch. — Diane Duane

This is why one must be careful with life," her father had said, in very controlled wrath. "Death is the most hateful thing. Don't allow the destruction of what you can never restore. — Diane Duane

The issues of the choice between right and wrong has to be an ongoing concern for everybody, at every age. There is no magical point in a human life when anyone is or becomes immune to the second-by-second choice to do right instead of wrong. — Diane Duane

It'd be a poor kind of world where there was just one explanation for things.
Rhiow — Diane Duane

Fred started to follow, but Nita caught him in cupped hands, holding him back for a moment. "Fred! Did we do right?" Even here she couldn't keep the pain out of her question, the fear that she could have somehow have prevented his death. But Fred radiated a serene and wondering joy that took her breath and reassured her and filled her with wonder to match his, all at once. Go find out, he said. — Diane Duane

Nita drank her tea, watching Roshaun read while he maneuvered the lollipop from one side of his mouth to the other. The bulge it produced looked very out of place against his otherwise flawless facial structure.
Roshaun felt Nita's gaze resting on him, and looked up. "What?"
Nita controlled her smile. "The lollipop ... "
"What about it?"
"I hate to say this, but you're kind of spoiling your grandeur."
"What grandeur he has," Dairine remarked.
"Kings are made no less noble by eating," Roshaun said. "Rather, they ennoble what they eat."
"Wow, who sold you that one?" Nita said. — Diane Duane

Those who don't know the mistakes of the past won't be able to enjoy it when they make them again in the future. — Diane Duane

Where's my bed?!" Dairine shrieked.
"It's on Pluto," Nita said. "On the winter side, somewhere nice and dark and quiet, where you won't find it if you look all day-which you're not going to have time to do, becaus you'll be in school. — Diane Duane

Power," Nita heard her father say behind her. "Creation. Forces from before time. This is
this business is for saints, not children!"
Even saints have to start somewhere," Carl said softly. "And it's always been the children who have saved the universe from the previous generation and remade the universe in their own image. — Diane Duane

What are you thinking of? Dairine demanded. Let me help you
You need to stay here and let me do this, Roshaun said.
But if I can just
You can't, Roshaun said, looking at her with that infuriating, amused expression. But then that's what "Guarantor" means. If the world can't pay the price ... if the people around you can't pay the price ... you do.
The price? No! Dairine said. No! You don't even like my little planet - you said so
No, Roshaun said. Which is possibly the best of all possible reasons to do this.
He stepped out of the wizardry.
"No," Dairine whispered. "No! Roshaun!"
Roshaun vanished into the fire. — Diane Duane

You set, Bones?"
"Ouch," McCoy said. "I assume that pun was meant to make me feel better, or else accidental. — Diane Duane

Go ahead! Panic!" screamed Picchu from somewhere in the background. "Do it now and avoid the June rush! Fear death by water! — Diane Duane

Belief as such always has doubt at the bottom. It's knowing that makes wizardry work. Only knowing can banish doubt. — Diane Duane

Doctors couldn't be everywhere, so the Lord invented Vulcans. I thought you knew. — Diane Duane

Nita stood there horrified. "You just killed him!"
"No," the Lone One said, "you did. Not a bad start, but then you were intent enough on killing something."
All around Nita, the snarling of the viruses was getting louder and louder. "Anyway, don't be too concerned about Pralaya; I'll find another of his people to replace him if there's need. Now, though, matters stand as I told you they stood. All we need is your conscious answer to the question. Can we do business?"
Nita stood there, frozen.
And another voice spoke out of the darkness.
"Fairest and Fallen," Kit said, "one more time ... greeting and defiance. — Diane Duane

We do what we have to, to live. Sometimes that means breaking a rocks heart, or pushing roots down into ground that screams againest the intrusion. As for you-how else should our children climb to the star's but up our branches? We made our peace with that fact a long time ago, that we would be used and maybe forgotten. So be it. What you learn in your climbing will make all the life on this planet greater, more precious. And when it comes to that, who writes the things written in your body, your life? And who reads?-Our cases aren't that much different? — Diane Duane

The great white lions from the steps of the Public Library leaped together and threw themselves upon the iron steed and its dark rider. For — Diane Duane

Believe something and the Universe is on its way to being changed. Because you've changed, by believing. Once you've changed, other things start to follow. Isn't that the way it works? — Diane Duane

If death is truly a curse,' Spock said, as soberly as some power pronouncing a hundred years of sleep, but with a glint of private, serene humor in his eyes. 'There is little logic in condemning something one has not experienced ... or does not remember experiencing. — Diane Duane

In Life's name and for Life's sake, I say that I will use the Art for nothing but the service of that Life. I will guard growth and ease pain. I will fight to preserve what grows and lives well in its own way; and I will change no object or creature unless its growth and life, or that of the system of which it is part, are threatened. To these ends, in the practice of my Art, I will put aside fear for courage, and death for life, when it is right to do so - till Universe's end. I will look always toward the Heart of Time, where all times are one, where all our sundered worlds lie whole, as they were meant to be. — Diane Duane

And we will cause it to be well-made, this Sacrifice. You, young and never loving; I, old and never loved. Such a Song the Sea will never have seen. — Diane Duane

So You Want To Be A Wizard? — Diane Duane

How am I supposed to save the universe with all this noise?! — Diane Duane

Sometimes we do not hear the Whisperer even at her loudest because she speaks in our own voice, the one we most often discount. — Diane Duane

The merriment of everything from foot-high weeds to hundred-foot oaks, rustling in the wind - grave chuckling of maples and alders, titters from groves of sapling sassafras, silly giggling in the raspberry bushes, a huge belly laugh from the oldest hollow ash tree before the freeway interchange. — Diane Duane

You look concerned," Roshaun said from behind her.
Dairine scowled over her shoulder at him. "The whole universe is in danger," she said, "and we're not sure how to save it, assuming it can be saved. One of the Powers That Be has stuffed secret messages into my brain without telling me. And a friend of mine who happens to be my wizard's manual is being reprogrammed with software that even these guys haven't had time to beta test! Wow, Roshaun, why would I need to be concerned?"
Roshaun glanced at the ground. Another chair appeared for him, a slight distance from Dairine's. He lowered himself into it, stretching out his legs with a sigh. "Sarcasm," he said, "Amusing, if ineffective. — Diane Duane

Something always happens. You still have to promise stuff anyway. If you have to work to make the promises true ... it's like a spell. You have to say the words every time you want the results. — Diane Duane

Even in your world, people have died for words. Sometimes they've died of them. One learns to be careful what one says in such a world. And like anything so powerful, like any weapon, words cut both ways. They redeem and betray - sometimes both at once. The attribute we name as a virtue may also turn out to be our bane. So we watch what we call things - in case we should turn out to be right. — Diane Duane

You do have the idea of being 'just good friends?'"
He gave her a sideways look. "For so high and honorable an estate," Roshaun said, " 'just' seems a poor modifier to choose. — Diane Duane

Sarek looked up with something like hope in his eyes. "I must say," he said, "I am impressed. You are quite a detective, Doctor." "All doctors are detectives. All the ones worth their salt, anyway. . . ." "I will get you as much salt as you want, Doctor," Sarek said, — Diane Duane

Don't be afraid to make corrections," Picchu said. "Don't be afraid to lend a hand." She fell silent, seeming to think for a moment. "And don't look down. — Diane Duane

magic does not live in the unwilling soul. — Diane Duane

Don't be afraid to make corrections! Whether the voice came from her memory or was a last whisper from the blinding new star far above, Nita never knew. But she knew what to do. While Kit was still on the first part of the name she pulled out her pen, her best pen that Fred had saved and changed. She clicked it open. The metal still tingled against her skin, the ink at the point still glittered oddly- the same glitter as the ink with which the bright Book was written. Nita bent quickly over the Book and with the pen, in lines of light, drew from the final circle an arrow pointing up-ward, the way out, the symbol that said change could happen- if, only if- — Diane Duane

Nita stood still, listening to Joanne's footsteps hurrying away, a little faster every second- and slowly began to realize that she'd gotten what she asked for too- the ability to break the cycle of anger and loneliness, not necessarily for others, but at least for herself. It wouldn't even take the Speech; plain words would do it, and the magic of reaching out. It would take a long time, much longer then something simple like breaking the walls of the worlds, and it would cost more effort than even reading the Book of Night with Moon. But it would be worth it- and eventually it would work. A spell always works. Nita went home. — Diane Duane

I have to give her what you did, don't I?" she said. "Enough of my personal information for Aurilelde to link to her own ... so that the congruency between us is complete, and all this works out the way it should ... "
Kit didn't say anything.
... But why wouldn't I? Nita thought. To make all this come out all right. She nodded to Irina. Irina nodded back, turned away.
And only then did it occur to Nita, with a shock, that this would mean it hadn't been Aurilelde who Kit had been so attracted to. It was her ... — Diane Duane

A fragile thing, brittle-looking, an objet d' art, round and perfect: but for how long? From far enough out in orbit, one has no doubt that one could drop the Earth on the floor of night and break it. An urge arises to step softly, to speak quietly, so as to keep whoever might be carrying the pretty toy from being startled and fumbling it. — Diane Duane

Footsteps in the snow suggest where you have been, point to where you were going: but when they suddenly vanish, never dismiss the possibility of flight ... — Diane Duane

Reading one book is like eating one potato chip. — Diane Duane

Just a title, or an author's name, would be enough to summon up happy images. Strange — Diane Duane

I may have one more 'Star Trek' novel in me, but it would be in the old universe, not the new one. — Diane Duane

Not even Spock had stayed aboard for that - he found breathing vacuum for any length of time to be aesthetically unpleasant. — Diane Duane

The Spear in the Other's heart is the spear in your own: you are he. — Diane Duane

He once reduced the President of the United States - then a ceremonial post, but one much loved by people who lived within the old borders - to tears of laughter at a state dinner, by delivering a learned dissertation on computer data storage technology in a flawless Texan accent. The lady was later heard to propose an amendment to the Constitution to allow off-worlders to hold high public office, so that she could have him for her running mate in the next election. It — Diane Duane

When governments murder those who speak the truth, it is time to get new governments. — Diane Duane

There is a rule for fantasy writers: The more truth you mix in with a lie, the stronger it gets. — Diane Duane

At any rate, after five years Surak came out of the wilds, took a small apartment in the capital, near his parents' house, and began to write for the information networks. — Diane Duane

What I try to do for my readers is to pass on some of the things that I found out about being thirteen after doing it for forty years. — Diane Duane

A couple of minutes later, the turbolift doors hissed open. Spock was standing in the turbolift. He had the air of a man who had been in an extreme hurry, but who had been stopped in midrush and given something he didn't understand. He was holding a small flat cushion. — Diane Duane

What teens will realize is always a mystery to me. I'm still realizing so many things myself, very belatedly, that it seems unwise to think I have any right to be showing people things in hopes that they'll realize them. — Diane Duane

Beware! said the peridxis's voice in her head. Don't let It's shadowy little truth overwhelm the greater one. — Diane Duane

Most people think it's normal to have a nameless sorrow at the bottom of your soul. — Diane Duane

Kit raised his eyebrows. 'You mean we should tell [Carmela] that being hot on Ronan is actually being hot on both a cranky Celto-Goth hottie and a senior Power-That-Is who spent most of the last ten years on earth wearing a macaw costume?'
Nita looked at him.
'Nah,' Kit said at last. 'Let's not say anything. Let's just let it play out.' And then Kit broke up laughing.
Nita's look grew annoyed. 'You're enjoying the idea,' she said.
'Oh yeah!' Kit managed to say. It took a while to get control of his laughter. — Diane Duane

Well, the rollout of new technology always affects how wizards do business. — Diane Duane

You should know how terrible a power belief is, especially in the wrong hands
and how do you tell which hands are wrong? Believe something and the Universe is on its way to being changed. Because you've changed, by believing. Once you've changed, other things start to follow. — Diane Duane

She strolled between shelves, looking at titles, smiling as she met old friends - books she had read three times or five times or a dozen. Just a title, or an author's name, would be enough to summon up happy images. Strange creatures like phoenixes and psammeads, moving under smokey London daylight of a hundred years before, in company with groups of bemused children; starships and new worlds and the limitless vistas of interstellar night, outer space challenged but never conquered; princesses in silver and golden dresses, princes and heroes carrying swords like sharpened lines of light, monsters rising out of weedy tarns, wild creatures that talked and tricked one another ... — Diane Duane

He came back the next day, and the next, and the day after that, and they argued. The arguments always started about the binding itself, but then they began to stray out into more interesting topics
the relationships and interrelationships in their families, the politics that went on, and the doings of the kingdoms and lordships of the world; and finally, about themselves, or rather, each other. The arguments started early and ended late: it was almost improper.
After about three days of this, T'Thelaih realized that she was going to have to be bound to this man, just to have the leisure to argue properly with him. — Diane Duane

All the drawing lacks
is the final touch: To add
eyes to the dragon — Diane Duane

Go maire tu' I bhfad agus rath!
'Live long and prosper'. — Diane Duane

Dear Artificer, I've blown my quanta and gone to the Good Place! — Diane Duane

My first generation of young readers now have not only children, but some of them have grandchildren to whom they're introducing their old passion. — Diane Duane

As I said, wear flats. No point in injuring them with heels while they're abasing themselves. — Diane Duane

(True,) the white hole said. (My name is Khairelikoblepharehglukumeilichephreidosd'enagouni-) and at the same time he went flickering through a pattern of colors that was evidently the visual translation. — Diane Duane

Become careless with fire, and sure enough, fire will burn you. Do treachery, and treachery will be done you. Kill, and be punished with death. All these I've done. Now I pay the price, in my own flesh and blood. — Diane Duane

A legend can just as well be founded in the future as in the past."
"It's called a 'prophecy,'" Urruah said. "You may have heard of the concept. — Diane Duane

But how many other kinds of life are there that I could learn to feel? Who knows where thought is hiding? . . . — Diane Duane

A warp," Nita whispered. "A tunnel through space-time. Are you a white hole?"
It stopped bobbing, stared at her as if she had said something derogatory. (Do I look like a hole?) — Diane Duane

Any space tends to look serene when it's not full of angry dinosaurs — Diane Duane

But even in your world it's a byword. Men will fight bravely and be heroes, but for last-ditch defense against any odds ... get a Mother. — Diane Duane

She tried to walk softly and wished the trees wouldn't stare at her so. — Diane Duane

Things change," said the former Sunlord, "as we see." And once again he looked at Dairine. "You arrive for your people's first sight of you as Sunlord, and what do they also see, standing at your side? An alien, garbed in raiment much like that of Wellakhit royalty, wearing some other world's life-color, gemmed like a Guarantor. The rumors are flying already. Does another world have designs on the rule of ours? Either by straightforward conquest, or more intimate means?" Dairine's eyes went wide as what he meant sank in. "You mean they think that we - that I - You tell those people that they are completely nuts! Even if I were old enough to think about stuff like this, which I seriously am not, I have zero interest in being anybody's queen! Especially not his - " And then Dairine stopped short as she saw the peculiar look that had appeared on both Roshaun's and Nelaid's faces. "Uh," she said then, and blushed again. "Maybe there was a less tactful way I could have put that . . ." That — Diane Duane

Belief made no difference to the truth. — Diane Duane

There's no way that can be the river," Rhiow said.
"Rhi, the ceiling of Grand Central
" Saash said.
"It's backward," Rhiow snapped, "thank you very much, I know all about it."
"Is it?" Saash said. "Which direction are you coming at it from?"
Rhiow closed her mouth and thought about that. — Diane Duane

When friends couldn't be found, the books were always waiting with something new to tell. Life that was getting too much the same could be shaken up in a few minutes by the pictures in a book of some ancient temple newly discovered deep in a rain-forest, a fuzzy photo of Uranus with it's up-and-down rings, or a prismed picture taken through the faceted eye of a bee.
-Nita Callahan-
-So You Want To Be A Wizard- — Diane Duane

With four-to-one odds against us, our ability to leave the encounter without serious damage becomes seriously impaired." "Spock," McCoy said gently, "your bedside manner is flawless. You mean, we're all going to be blown to hell." Spock hesitated, then nodded. — Diane Duane

She thought briefly of one police force in a neighboring state, some years back, which without a second thought had for many years classified people murdered in its jurisdiction as "male victim," "female victim," and "prostitute. — Diane Duane

Honey, have you seen your sister?
She's on Jupiter, Mom. — Diane Duane

The city breathing, burning, living the life thy had preserved. Ten million lives and more. If something should happen to all that life- how terrible! Nita gulped for control as she remembered Fred's word of just this morning, an eternity ago. And this was what being a wizard was about. Keeping terrible things from happening, even when it hurts. Not just power, or control of what ordinary people couldn't control, or delight in being able to make strange things happen. Those were the side effects- not the reason, the purpose. — Diane Duane

We knew you were hurting," Gelert said. "But sometimes - that idiom about being there for somebody, actually just means to be there. Doing anything, saying anything, sometimes you know it'll hurt them worse than just being quiet, and being close. — Diane Duane

What's loved, lives. — Diane Duane

It's always been the children who have saved the universe from the previous generation and remade the world in their own image.
Carl — Diane Duane