James A. Owen Quotes & Sayings

Astraeus,' Aven called out. 'God of the four winds and friend to sailors. Say a little prayer when you look at him, so he will give us what we need to keep our course.'
A little prayer?' said Jack. 'To a constellation?'
To what it represents,' said Aven.
But I don't believe in what it represents,' said Jack.
Prayers aren't for the deity,' said Aven. 'They're for you, to recommit yourself to what you believe.'
Can't you do that without praying to a dead Greek god?'
Sure,' said Aven. 'But how often would anyone do that, if not in prayer? — James A. Owen

If you really want to do something, no one can stop you. But if you really don't want to do something, no one can help you — James A. Owen

It's Elvish," Tummeler repeated. "It says, basically, 'Declare allegiance, and be welcomed."
"Well, doesn't it perhaps mean that the magic word that opens the door is 'allegiance'?" Said Jack. "In Elvish?"
"That's a stupid idea," said John. "Then anyone who spoke Elvish could get in. — James A. Owen

That isn't a desperate act. That's a PLAN. — James A. Owen

If I can't joke about imminent death, then I might as well just resign. — James A. Owen

I'm a conundrum. Or an enigma. I forget which. — James A. Owen

Our weaknesses are always evident, both to ourselves and others. But our strengths are hidden until we choose to reveal them
and that is when we are truly tested. When all that we have within is exposed, and we may no longer blame our inadequacies for our failure, but must instead depend upon our strengths to succeed ... that is when the measure of a man is taken, my boy. — James A. Owen

Kind of bloodthirsty, don't you think, Charles?" said John.
"I'm an editor," said Charles. "I have to make decisions like that all the time. — James A. Owen

Half there, and half not," Grimalkin said, having suddenly appeared over Burton's shoulder. "Sounds implausible to me. — James A. Owen

If everything in the past has value, then there's no reason for regret, ever. — James A. Owen

Your ability to shape your destiny is directly proportional to your belief that it is a matter of will and determination
however much or little that belief may be. — James A. Owen

A really well-done first draft of a book bares your soul. The purpose of revision is so that everyone who reads the published version believes you were writing about theirs. — James A. Owen

Sometimes a catastrophe is simply a course correction. — James A. Owen

That's the thing about time travel - you're always moving forward, even when you go back. — James A. Owen

Simple,' Tummeler replied.' Blueberries is one of the great forces o'good in the world.'
How do you figure that?' said Charles.
Well,' said Tummeler, 'have you ever seen a troll, or a Wendigo, or,' he shuddered, 'a Shadow-Born ever eating a blueberry pie?'
No,' Charles admitted.
There y'go,' said Tummeler. It's cause they can't stand the goodness in it.'
Can't argue with you there,' said Charles.
Foods is good and evil, just like people, or badgers, or even scowlers.'
Evil food?' said Charles.
Parsnips,' said Tummeler, 'Them's as evil as they come. — James A. Owen

I think the idea of simply "enduring to the end" is a terrible philosophy and an awful way to live one's life. How you spend your days is how you live your life, and if you're spending them "enduring" anything then you're doing it wrong. — James A. Owen

Jack," said Charles, "he's making up words again."
"Yes," Jack replied, "but he's getting better at it, don't you think? — James A. Owen

Don't ascribe to evil what can be attributed to well-intentioned stupidity. — James A. Owen

I cannot be defeated, because you are not my opponent. I cannot lose, because I am not fighting. And in the end, all I have to do to win is honor the path I have chosen and honor yours, too. — James A. Owen

Like all the other arrivals to the tournament, Hank had erected a banner in front. It was a long, tapering pennant with a blue and red circular design in the center and the words GO CUBS! on both sides.
Interesting," said Hugo. "What does it mean?"
It was a gift from Sam," Hank explained as they entered the tent. "He said it used to represent Triumph over Adversity, but now better represents Impossible Quests and Lost Causes."
I think I preferred not knowing that," said Hugo.
Hank grinned. "You're a Sox fan too, hey? — James A. Owen

Interesting doesn't always equal practical, but being practical is always less interesting. — James A. Owen

What the good Lord giveth, he also taketh away. Then he puts it back again. — James A. Owen

The Secret of Drawing consists of just two things: 1) Making lines on paper; and 2) Choosing where they go. — James A. Owen

A choice with no consequences has no value. Making a choice knowing there will be consequences, and being willing to bear them, is what distinguishes the right choices from the wrong ones. — James A. Owen

You're a very odd man," said Bert.
"I get that more often than you'd think," replied Charles. — James A. Owen

Power, true power, comes from the belief in true things, and the willingness to stand behind that belief, even if the universe itself conspires to thwart your plans. Chaos may settle; flames may die;
worlds may rise and fall. But true things will remain so, and will never fail to guide you to your goals. — James A. Owen

Bad things can happen, and often do
but they only take up a few pages of your story; and anyone can survive a few pages. — James A. Owen

That's one benefit of travelling to your own future, and making the trip part of your past. — James A. Owen

It ain't bragging if you've done it. There's nothing wrong with being proud of doing something well. In fact, if you intend to do something creative for a living, it's absolutely essential.
[check for wording] Proper pride says, "I'm good at this." Improper pride says, "I'm better than you. — James A. Owen

I believe that every one of us has something that's very unique to us specifically. Something unique enough that no one else might really ever understand it - not our parents, or teachers, or best friends, or siblings.
It's our point of view.
Our point of view is what makes us unique, because no one else - no one else - has your particular combination of thoughts, and dreams, and hopes, and desires, and ambitions and memories, and experiences. No one. And I believe that every once in a while, the Universe opens itself up to you and you alone, and shows you something that no one else is going to understand. And you have to decide in that moment how much you believe in what you have seen - even if everyone else in the world tells you you're wrong. — James A. Owen

It was a silver watch with a matching chain and fob, and on the back was an engraving of Samaranth.
'Is it a time machine?' Jack asked. 'Will it let us travel through time?'
'I believe it will,' Ordo Maas replied. 'I've found that for every minute I watch it, I move a full minute farther into the future. — James A. Owen

All stories are true. But some of them never happened. — James A. Owen

Sometimes, it is not about guarding something of value that is important, but rather, being a valuable guard, so that when that thing comes along that needs guarding, there is no question. — James A. Owen

The single biggest advantage of being completely surrounded is that it gives you the opportunity to attack the enemy in any direction you choose. — James A. Owen

Discipline, Norah. If you're going to taunt them, remember to stick out your tongue. — James A. Owen

Said Jack matter-of-factly. "I'm a man. We're made to think more quickly."
... Aven swung her fist and clocked Jack square on the chin, knocking him backward into the balloon, which was still under repair.
... Aven rubbed her knuckles and looked at the others. "Sorry about that. I might have stopped myself from hitting him, but I didn't think of it quickly enough. — James A. Owen

Always, always ask for what you want. Because the Universe might surprise you - and give it to you. — James A. Owen

I know," said Peter. "Perhaps better than anyone. But you can't stay a child forever. To choose to speak into Echo's Well is to choose illusion. To choose to avoid the responsibilities of being an adult. The real trick - the real choice - is to keep the best of the child you were, without forgetting when you grow up.
"It is the best of both worlds, Jack. Being a child is to believe in magic everywhere ...
" ... but even Peter Pan had to grow up one day. — James A. Owen

Just because I'm a murdering, thieving, cowardly, traitorous sort doesn't mean I can't do my job properly. — James A. Owen

If you know something bad is coming, can't you plan to avoid it or try to do something differently?" said Charles.
Probably", said the Cartographer, "but then the good events would have no flavor. The joy you find in life is paid for by suffering that comes later, just as sometimes, the suffering is redeemed by a joy unexpected. That's the trade that makes a life worth living. — James A. Owen

Not many people can lay claim to having broken Time, and we did it purely by accident. — James A. Owen

Never, ever, sacrifice what you want the most, for what you want the most at that moment. — James A. Owen

Live deliberately. Decide: are you the kind of person things happen to, or the kind of person who makes things happen? — James A. Owen

Prayers aren't for the deity ... They're for you, to recommit yourself to what you believe. — James A. Owen

The Cavelries hear and their short and furrie — James A. Owen

Some of us got our reputations because we wrote good books or had clever publicists. He got his reputation through sheer hard work. — James A. Owen

Extending trust to those who have already proven themselves untrustworthy is a bit like cutting off the end of a rope and sewing it to the other end to make it longer. — James A. Owen

It is the world, my boy," he said. "All the World, in ink and blood, vellum and parchment, leather and hide. It is the World, and it is yours to save or lose. — James A. Owen

I think that nonexistent mythological creature just broke some of your toes," Jack said.
Oh, shut up," said Charles — James A. Owen