Genevieve Cogman Quotes & Sayings

And then they were inside, and out of the wind, and surrounded by comforting walls and walls of books. The rich, delightful smell of old paper, leather and ink permeated the place, washing away the pettier odours of blood and oil and smog. — Genevieve Cogman

Kai's fingers bit into her shoulder hard enough to make her refocus. 'If you pass out on me now, I'm going to kill you,' he said conversationally. — Genevieve Cogman

The atmosphere of the place soothed her automatically; the rich lantern lights, the sheer scent of paper and leather, and the fact that everywhere she looked, there were books, books, beautiful books. — Genevieve Cogman

The perfect Librarian is calm, cool, collected, intelligent, multilingual, a crack shot, a martial artist, an Olympic-level runner (at both the sprint and marathon), a good swimmer, an expert thief, and a genius con artist. They can steal a dozen books from a top-security strongbox in the morning, discuss literature all afternoon, have dinner with the cream of society in the evening, and then stay up until midnight dancing, before stealing some more interesting tomes at three a.m. That's what a perfect Librarian would do. In practice, most Librarians would rather spend their time reading a good book. — Genevieve Cogman

He'd completely neglected the subject: there had been plenty of material on the current non-Fae situation, but hardly any on the Fae themselves, their political implications, and their ongoing plans for world domination - since Fae always had plans for world domination. (It was more dramatic that way, after all.) — Genevieve Cogman

She was in the Library. Not just any library, but the Library. — Genevieve Cogman

Then what is the purpose of the Library?" Vale asked.
"To save books," Irene said firmly. — Genevieve Cogman

I have spent most of my life preferring books to people,' Irene said sharply. 'Just because I like a few specific people doesn't change anything. — Genevieve Cogman

This sense of possibility might not last, of course Nothing ever did. But she wasn't going to spoil it by looking too far ahead. They were safe in the Library, and the Library would endure. — Genevieve Cogman

Kai might be very non-judgemental when it came to personal gender roles, but he was extremely superior when explaining how non-judgemental he was. "I — Genevieve Cogman

We have to report this."

Kai sighed deeply in relief. "I was afraid you were going to say that we had to investigate it ourselves."

"Don't be ridiculous," Irene said briskly. "We may collect fiction, but we are not required to imitate the stupider parts of it. — Genevieve Cogman

She remembered the conversation in the Library, as forgetting was the last thing a fully-trained Librarian should do. Memories were as important as books, and almost as important as proper indexing. — Genevieve Cogman

And at that moment the alligators burst into the room. — Genevieve Cogman

Johnson! Have I committed any illegal actions?'
Johnson checked his watch. 'Not within the last three minutes, sir. — Genevieve Cogman

Paranoia was one of the few habits that was worth keeping. — Genevieve Cogman

Or possibly possessiveness was a characteristic of draconic affection. They were supposed to be hoarders, after all. Not so different from Librarians. — Genevieve Cogman

Apparently Lord Wyndham did regularly donate books to various museums around London. They were usually ones which he had collected earlier, but which were no longer of interest to him or his associates. Irene twitched at the very notion. Give books away? How very frivolous, she finally said. — Genevieve Cogman

We also wish to make it absolutely clear that Librarians should not attempt to use the Library to transport dinosaur eggs. And if they do disregard this rule, under no circumstances should they draw official in-world attention while doing so. In fact, we wish to remind all Librarians that they are here to collect books, not dinosaurs. Those Librarians who have problems distinguishing between the two should take a refresher course in Library basics. — Genevieve Cogman

And she didn't want great secrets of necromancy, or any other sort of magic. She just wanted - had always wanted - a good book to read. Being chased by hellhounds and blowing things up were comparatively unimportant parts of the job. — Genevieve Cogman

All right, Irene thought, I have officially met someone who makes even more reckless plans than I do. 'This could indeed be the beginning of a beautiful friendship,' she agreed, and she couldn't help smiling. — Genevieve Cogman

Stuffed creatures, come to life and attack werewolves. — Genevieve Cogman

Remind me why I took this job,' Kai muttered. 'People pointed guns at you. Right?' 'Yeah. Something like that.' 'And you like books.' She glanced sidelong at him. He flashed a quick, genuine smile at her. 'Yeah. That would be it. — Genevieve Cogman

and the deepest, most fundamental part of her life involved a love of books. Right now, she wanted nothing more than to shut the rest of the world out, and have nothing to worry about, except the next page of whatever she was reading. — Genevieve Cogman

We are the Library," Coppelia pointed out. "What we don't know, we research. — Genevieve Cogman

one of the Library's mottos was borrowed directly from the great military thinker Clausewitz: no strategy ever survived contact with the enemy. Or, in the vernacular, Things Will Go Wrong. Be Prepared. She — Genevieve Cogman

Irene didn't dignify his question with an answer. Besides, he'd learn better. A Librarian's mission to seek out books for the Library developed, after a few years, into an urge to find out everything that was going on around one. It wasn't even a personal curiosity. It was a simple, impersonal, uncontrollable need to know. One came to terms with it. She lifted off the Canopic jar's stylized jackal-head lid. 'There's something in here,' she reported. — Genevieve Cogman

We are what we make ourselves — Genevieve Cogman

Aubrey - "Apparently she wears a black leather catsuit and a golden mask."

Irene - "Any details on the mask?"

Aubrey - "I think people are usually too busy looking at the black leather catsuit. — Genevieve Cogman

Panic is the last thing we can afford," Coppelia said. "Panic will have everyone rushing off in different directions to try to 'save the Library.' Panic is the antithesis to good organization. Panic is messy. I am against panic on a point of principle. — Genevieve Cogman

global thermonuclear war — Genevieve Cogman

How?' Irene enquired. She'd decided a while back that Socratic reasoning was a good idea, because (a) it got students thinking for them selves, (b) sometimes they came up with ideas she hadn't thought of, and (c) it gave her more time to think while they were trying to find answers. — Genevieve Cogman

..all of us who are sealed to the Library are people who have chosen this way of life because we love books. None of us wanted to save worlds. I mean, not that we object to saving worlds..." She shrugged, picking up her teacup again "We want books. We love books. We live with books. — Genevieve Cogman

The only problem is that it's difficult to imagine something entirely new. We use the words and definitions of the past to shape our ideas. Something that is genuinely the next evolutionary step is unlikely to resemble anything we can imagine. Even the best books on the subject are limited." She'd — Genevieve Cogman

It is my theory that the greater truths underlying life and death can be best be understood as a parable--that is, as a fiction. — Genevieve Cogman

Then the howling started. It was either hellhounds or teenagers, and she suspected the former. — Genevieve Cogman

no strategy ever survived contact with the enemy. Or, in the vernacular, Things Will Go Wrong. Be Prepared. — Genevieve Cogman

Belgium always seems to get invaded, fall prey to meteorites or get infested by alien fungus or something . . . — Genevieve Cogman

This is a place built to store books, by people who wanted to preserve books, and used by people who want to read those books. I am not alone. — Genevieve Cogman

She just wanted - had always wanted - a good book to read. Being chased by hellhounds and blowing things up were comparatively unimportant parts of the job. Getting the books - now, that was what *really* mattered to her. — Genevieve Cogman