Joan Slonczewski Quotes & Sayings

Of all the well-meant emotions pity is the cruelest to share. — Joan Slonczewski

Few fears are rational. — Joan Slonczewski

If every planet in the Patriarchy refused to be ruled, we all would be free. — Joan Slonczewski

Death can be hastened but never shared. — Joan Slonczewski

They gave me eyes. All of you are beautiful; you shine like stars. But I must go away with them. — Joan Slonczewski

You are as responsible for what you let happen as for the actions you share. — Joan Slonczewski

A life postponed too long might never be lived. — Joan Slonczewski

Death hastens those who hasten death. — Joan Slonczewski

A thousand fools believe a lie, and it's good as truth. — Joan Slonczewski

There was no time for bitterness now: eat bitterness, and bitterness eats you. — Joan Slonczewski

That was the way to start, he knew: with unsureness. Only when the mind cracked open its own worldly certainties could a glimpse of light appear. — Joan Slonczewski

Usha had said that males were not all that different, just bigger outside to make up for what they lacked within. — Joan Slonczewski

What the devil is 'wordsharing'? Does the word for 'speak' mean 'listen' just as well? If I said, 'Listen to me!' you might talk, instead."

"What use is the one without the other? It took me a long time to see this distinction in Valan speech."

Spinel thought over the list of 'share forms': learnsharing, worksharing, lovesharing. "Do you say 'hitsharing,' too? If I hit a rock with a chisel, does the rock hit me?"

"I would think so. Don't you feel it in your arm?"

He frowned and sought a better example; it was so obvious, it was impossible to explain. "I've got it: if Beryl bears a child, does the child bear Beryl? That's ridiculous."

"A mother is born when her child comes."

"Or if I swim in the sea, does the sea swim in me?"

"Does it not?"

Helplessly he thought, She can't be that crazy. "Please, you do know the difference, don't you?"

"Of course. What does it matter? — Joan Slonczewski