Keene Quotes & Sayings

Nancy, an attractive titian blond, grinned up at her friend. — Carolyn Keene

There are those amongst us who have erred, deeply and significantly. Who have wounded the world and broken themselves. The worst of them lose themselves in their errors. The best of them crawl back, one foot at a time, and seek to amend their breaches. That is the way of the brave.
-Gabriel Keene, Pack Apex, pp. 37 — Chloe Neill

We're all scared. Might as well be scared together. — Brian Keene

Loosen up, " Mr. Keene said again. "Most of your trouble, Eddie, comes from being so tight and stiff all the time. Take your asthma, for instance. Look here. — Stephen King

Don't just rehash what came before. Find new things to do with it, in your unique voice. — Brian Keene

She always has close calls when she solves a mystery! — Carolyn Keene

Bess stepped back and looked at Nancy admiringly. 'Your hunches are so often right it startles me. — Carolyn Keene

They want to control humankind through what they call selective breeding. The Nazis started it, but now the nwo are continuing it. See, the only way to control population is to first get it back down to manageable size. They're culling the herd, same way the game commission does when deer population gets out of control. That's why we've got diseases like cancer and aids. You telling me that we can put a little goddamn skateboard-looking robot on Mars and have it send pictures back, but we can't find a cure for cancer? There's a cure. You can bet on that, boys. There's a goddamn cure. They just won't release it because cancer helps cut down the population. — Brian Keene

[Donald] Keene observed [in a book entitled The Pleasures of Japanese Literature, 1988] that the Japanese sense of beauty has long sharply differed from its Western counterpart: it has been dominated by a love of irregularity rather than symmetry, the impermanent rather than the eternal and the simple rather than the ornate. The reason owes nothing to climate or genetics, added Keene, but is the result of the actions of writers, painters and theorists, who had actively shaped the sense of beauty of their nation.
Contrary to the Romantic belief that we each settle naturally on a fitting idea of beauty, it seems that our visual and emotional faculties in fact need constant external guidance to help them decide what they should take note of and appreciate. 'Culture' is the word we have assigned to the force that assists us in identifying which of our many sensations we should focus on and apportion value to. — Alain De Botton

I knew how easy it was to make people believe a lie, but I didn't expect the same people, confronted with the lie, would choose it over the truth. . . . No amount of logic can shatter a faith consciously based on a lie. — M. LaMar Keene

There are those among us who have erred, deeply and significantly. Who have wounded the world and broken themselves. The worst of them lose themselves in their errors. The best of them crawl back, one foot at a time, and seek to amend their breaches. That is the way of the brave. — Chloe Neill

The one big strategic error - which was a political error and an economic error of grand proportions - was the prescription drug bill. — David Keene

I wish I was a man. A man can do so many things. He can go to sea. He can be a soldier. He can fly. He can crawl in and out of beds. He can get drunk and into messes. Then all he has to do is sober up and take a bath and no one thinks less of him". — Day Keene

The name Urdu, by which this language is usually known, is said to be of Turkish origin, and means literally "camp." But the Moghuls of India first introduced it in the precincts of the Imperial camp; so that as Urdu-i-muali (High or Supreme Camp) came to be a synonym for new Dehli after Shahjahan had made it his permanent capital, so Urdu-ki-zaban meant the lingua franca spoken at Dehli. — H.G. Keene

Something about stringing words together until you get them right is magical; that something is why I love to write. — Paul Keene

Ah for pittie, wil ranke Winters rage,
These bitter blasts neuer ginne tasswage?
The keene cold blowes throug my beaten hyde,
All as I were through the body gryde.
My ragged rontes all shiver and shake,
As doen high Towers in an earthquake:
They wont in the wind wagge their wrigle tailes,
Perke as Peacock: but nowe it auales. — Edmund Spenser

We are many. Our number is greater than the stars. We are more than infinity. — Brian Keene

Ada and Isabel had been unpopular in high school. They had talked incessantly of money and social position, making themselves very obnoxious to the other students. — Carolyn Keene

Not many girls would have used their wits the way you did, the officer observed. — Carolyn Keene

Before she turned around to face him, she wiped away the tears that had started down her cheeks. Nancy didn't cry much, but when she did, she cried in private. — Carolyn Keene

Good ideas stay with you until you eventually write the story. — Brian Keene

Everything can be grist for the muse. Sometimes, writers draw on personal experiences. 'Ghoul' was just that. — Brian Keene

From the pay phone at the library I dialed the number on the Missing poster. An elderly female voice identified it as the Natalie Keene Hotline, but in the background I could hear a dishwasher churning. The woman informed me that so far as she knew, the search was still going in the North Woods. Those who wanted to help should report to the main access road and bring their own water. Record temperatures were expected. — Gillian Flynn

When you died, you were supposed to live on in the memories of others. That's what I'd always been told. Didn't matter what you believed, which religion you subscribed to, what god you worshipped. The simple fact was that none of us knew what lay beyond. Immortality and eternal life? The only sure shot at that was the memories of those you left behind - your friends and family ... — Brian Keene

Campo, as everyone in chess recognized, had a 2600 rating as a politician. — Raymond Keene

I bid farewell to my readers in the hope that they have formed their own opinion as to the meaning of the word "combination". — Raymond Keene

In late 2001, I contributed a short story called 'Castaways' to an anthology called 'In Laymon's Terms,' which was a tribute to Richard Laymon, who had passed away earlier that year. — Brian Keene

A low, silver sports car roared past at high speed, missing them by inches. Nancy glimpsed the man at the wheel long enough to register his dark mustache and the pipe clenched in his teeth. "What a menace," George said, shaking her head in disgust. Nancy — Carolyn Keene

famous fashion designer — Carolyn Keene

Levi," Maria called. "Come back. We're not finished yet."
He paused
"What, Maria?"
"You asked me what I believe in? I believed in you."
He nodded his head sadly. "Yes, you did. And before you met me, you believed in nothing. But that's the thing with belief, Maria. It's easy to believe in something when it doesn't require anything from you. It's much harder, though, when the object of your belief requires something of you or asks for something you don't want to give. That's when real belief occurs. — Brian Keene

Bell seated himself behind the desk, motioning for Nancy to stand opposite him. There was tense silence for a moment. Then Bell reached for a desk telephone.
"I am going to call the police, Miss Drew, and turn you over to them on a charge of trespassing, breaking, and entering with an attempt to steal."
"I wish you would," Nancy replied. "if it is possible over that dummy telephone. — Carolyn Keene

Snoopy Ned Nickerson went to the cupboard
To find Nancy Drew a clue.
But when he got there,
Each cupboard was bare
And so there was no clue for Drew. — Carolyn Keene

You didn't have to adjust under the watchful eye of Gabriel Keene." "You're right. I only had to adjust under the watchful eye of Ethan Sullivan. That was an utter cakewalk. — Chloe Neill

I've been a fan of 'The Defenders' since childhood, and Devil Slayer was always one of my favorite members of the team - especially during J.M. DeMatteis' wonderful run on the series. — Brian Keene

Do you mind if we stop at the Hip Hop Shop? Bess asked pleadingly. — Carolyn Keene

Do you think he's going to hurt Sam?" Bess asked. "I don't know. But it sounds like that's on the table. — Carolyn Keene

He considered China's interference in Korea to be an intolerable attempt to prevent the spread of enlightenment, and the war itself not merely a struggle between two countries but a "battle for the sake of world culture."49 — Donald Keene

Know your genre. Know your history. Read a book. — Brian Keene

Mr. Keene smiled. Think what you like, that smile said. Think what you like, and I'll think what I like. All I'm telling you, Eddie, is that you're not physically ill. Your lungs don't have asthma; your mind does. — Stephen King

The others laughed and Burt said, All you need are girls who paddle like boys, and you're set! — Carolyn Keene

You do trust Mr. Tugwell, do you not?"

Did he? Trust Tugwell with his secret? Perhaps. Trust him with Miss Keene? The man had fathered five children in six years. No, he did not trust Charles Tugwell with Miss Keene. — Julie Klassen

Jesus Christ-"
"Is Not here right now," the man in black replied,"and even if he were, he could not save you. — Brian Keene

Keene stared briefly towards the Judge and was briefly silent before he turned to Nelson. "Do you think God will forgive deception for a good purpose Mrs. Nelson?"
"Objection!" Winston yelled.
"Sustained," Judge Bizon said.
Keene hesitated, forced a smile as he held Nelson's eyes. "I have to presume you've heard about this case before you saw God Mrs. Nelson."
"Yes sir I sure did.'
"Did God mention that he had heard about the case as well? — Dew Platt

Slowly she surveyed her surroundings and took in the tiny gold lights glinting in every store window and the twin glass elevators decked in red and green bows. A banner hung from the second floor balcony, declaring ONLY SEVEN MORE SHOPPING DAYS TILL XMAS! — Carolyn Keene

Call the fire department," I said, trying hard to stay calm.
"On it." Bess said, digging into her pocket. "I'll text 911."
"Don't text, call!" I said, feeling my heart pounding in the chest. — Carolyn Keene

I just know that any time I undertake a case, I'm apt to run into some kind of a trap. — Carolyn Keene

The officer said No and his mother was frantic. — Carolyn Keene

Prometi hesitated, leaning back into his seat, seeming surprised at the round of questioning from Keene. He answered in a solemn tone. "I don't see the contradiction sir."
Keene forged a smile. "Of course you can. It's everything there is in the beginning. Fact existed in the beginning, did it not?"
Prometi squinted. "It ought to have."
Keene nodded. "Indeed I agree. Fact has to exist or nothing can be. Can something be and not be Fact?"
Prometi shook his head. "Nothing can be and not be fact indeed sir."
"But nothing is fact until revealed."
"Indeed Sir."
Prometi raised his voice lightly. "Such fact existed in the beginning without revelation. Can we not have a contradiction? Did fact reveal itself or is fact revelation? — Dew Platt

No, no!" Nancy cried out. She then gave a quick but complete resume of what had taken place at the Tophams' cottage. Jeff Tucker added his account. Nancy reported what had taken place at the Tophams' cottage The police officer needed no further urging. Immediately he summoned four men and issued orders. — Carolyn Keene

the Muscatonic Summer Music — Carolyn Keene

'Ghoul' was what my world looked like, growing up in the late Seventies and early Eighties, and what I thought it looked like. A lot of my personal experiences went into it. — Brian Keene

We're not going to make it, I said.
The words caught in my throat, choking me. What was it Leslie had said to me when we were discussing Shannon's and Antoinetta's disappearance? 'You're beginning to sound like one of the characters in your books, Adam.' She'd been right. If this were a novel my heroes would have arrived just in the nick of time and saved the day. But real life didn't work like that. Real life had no happy endings. Despite our best efforts, despite my love for Tara [his wife] and my determination to protect her, and after everything we'd been through at the LeHorn house, fate conspired against us. We were still nine or ten miles from home, and night was almost upon us. By the time we got there it would already be too late. I fought back tears. I had the urge just to lie down in the middle of the road and let the next car run over me. — Brian Keene

George's eyes lit up as she considered that there might be a mystery to solve. — Carolyn Keene

(3) 'IS IT A SYSTEM ... ?' ... Ultimately, I suspect, this is a question about which the reader should form his own judgement by study of the original text. — Raymond Keene

wiped his chin with his handkerchief while Eddie used his aspirator again. 'I want to go now,' Eddie said. 'Let me finish, please.' 'No! I want to go, you've got your money and I want to go!' 'Let me finish,' Mr Keene said, so forbiddingly that Eddie sat back in his chair. Grownups could be so hateful in their power sometimes. So hateful. — Stephen King

Both sides know the last election was just the beginning of the next election. It's clear there has been no attempt to have any kind of getting along. — David Keene

His insistence, George had made reservations for a flight the next day. — Carolyn Keene

When you're writing fulltime like I am, writing to pay the bills and keep a roof over your head and food on the table, you can't afford to have writer's block. — Brian Keene

why would Mr. Keene lie, especially about something so serious? — Stephen King

Nancy, you're a whiz, as I've often told you, her friend declared. — Carolyn Keene

Nancy drove to Twin Elms as fast as the law allowed. — Carolyn Keene

I tend to spend a lot of time building characters that the reader will believe in and sympathize with. — Brian Keene

Save it fucker. I'm gonna slit you open and gut you like a fish and pull out your insides. I'm going to show you the black stuff inside your belly, and then I'm gonna make you eat it. — Brian Keene

Read, read, read. That's all I can say. — Carolyn Keene

What a crazy way to be buried, he thought as he hunted. Get your body burned up and then poured into a box that looked like a library book, like your relatives could check you out and take you home for a couple of weeks. Would there be an overdue penalty if they were late bringing back the dead? — Brian Keene

Keep that hate alive in your heart, lad. It'll warm you when nothing else will. — Brian Keene

I love Nancy Drew! — Carolyn Keene

I turn to my mom as she sets her purse down on the table near the front door. I think about telling her. She deserves to know about the letter, I know that, but she was so proud of the fact that I was going to attend her alma mater and be a teacher just like her... I can't do it, not yet. "Oh... — Emma Keene

In real life, the monsters are the ones abducting and killing children or flying hijacked airplanes into skyscrapers or looting our treasury and sending our kids off to fight a bullshit war just so they can line their own pockets and the pockets of their corporate buddies or eradicating our Bill of Rights in the name of national security. Those are the real monsters. — Brian Keene

Chuckling to herself, Nancy said aloud, Romance and detective work won't mix tonight! — Carolyn Keene

I have a hunch from reading about old passageways that there may be one or more rooms off this tunnel, Nancy told Captain Rossland. — Carolyn Keene

We are still on our journey, still suffering and still laughing together. But I feel like the tide has turned, and I think we will have our happy ending yet. Even if it doesn't look like what we were expecting. — Meg Keene

Their eyes met, and Nancy felt a charge pass between them, like a small electric shock. Hold it, she warned herself. Since when do you respond to anyone other than Ned Nickerson? — Carolyn Keene

'Castaways' was a play on what if a reality show like 'Survivor' was unknowingly set on an island inhabited by a sub-human race of creatures? Readers have often asked me to consider turning the short story into a full-length novel. So I did. — Brian Keene

You do not esteem good deeds?" She shifted the basket handle to both hands, just as a cool breeze blew a bonnet string across her face.
"My dear Miss Keene, what would the world be without them?"
He brushed the string from her cheek. "Are we not admonished to be doers and not merely hearers of His word? Yet not on a mountain of good deeds can we climb our way to heaven. — Julie Klassen

Nancy, every place you go, it seems as if mysteries just pile up one after another. — Carolyn Keene

We could certainly use a detective. And I've got to hand it to you, Nancy - you sure can keep your head. — Carolyn Keene

Luther, bring the gatekeeper quickly!" Bell ordered. "Just how did you get in, Miss Drew?"
"I came in at the entrance," Nancy replied. "The larkspur is beautiful. — Carolyn Keene

I'll wire the International Federation of American Homing Pigeon Fanciers and give them the number stamped on the bird's leg ring. — Carolyn Keene

I don't promise to forget the mystery, but I know I'll have a marvelous time. — Carolyn Keene

Ned said "Nancy Drew is the best girl detective in the whole world!"
"Don't you believe him," Nancy said quickly. "I have solved some mysteries, I'll admit, and I enjoy it, but I'm sure there are many other girls who could do the same. — Carolyn Keene

I'm Fred Mathews — Carolyn Keene

I promise to be as careful as a pussycat walking up a slippery roof, — Carolyn Keene

I still think Barty must be a crook, — Carolyn Keene

nodded, because Mr. Keene was a grownup and you were supposed to agree with grownups at all costs (his mother had taught him that), but inside he was thinking: Oh, I've heard that bullshit before. It was about what the doctor said when he opened his sterilizer and the sharp frightening smell of alcohol drifted out, stinging his nostrils. That was the smell of shots and this was the smell — Stephen King

It is best to lay our plans widely in youth, for then land is cheap, and it is but too easy to contract our views afterward. Youths so laid out, with broad avenues and parks, that they may make handsome and liberal old men! Show me a youth whose mind is like some Washington city of magnificent distances, prepared for the most remotely successful and glorious life after all, when those spaces shall be built over and the idea of the founder be realized. I trust that every New England boy will begin by laying out a Keene Street through his head, eight rods wide. — Henry David Thoreau

Being a writer involves writing. You've got to commit to sitting down and writing instead of Xbox or Netflix. — Brian Keene

And to think," Ned said huskily, "only this afternoon I thought I'd lost you to another guy. — Carolyn Keene

Was it a threat, or a well-meant warning? — Carolyn Keene

Again time elapsed. — Carolyn Keene

When the lights suddenly go out, hold onto your diamonds for dear life. - Nancy Drew, The Mystery of Lilac Inn — Carolyn Keene

Do act mysterious. It always keeps them coming back for more. — Carolyn Keene

Strauss! Oh yes, he was so-so. He wrote pretty music- The Blue Danube and Tales from the Vienna Woods. But what is that compared to Mozart?'
Suddenly, Bess and George spotted Nancy coming towards them. 'Nancy!' the cousins chimed simultaneously and raced toward her.
'I see our bus driver is still at it.' Nancy grinned.
'All the way from Salzburg. George groaned.
'Did he run off the road again?'
'Not once but many times,' Bess said. 'It was awful. Once he got so angry because someone compared Beethoven to Mozart that he actually stopped the bus, ran outside, and shouted into the valley, Beethoven is a bore. Mozart is sublime. Over and over. The professor had to go out and drag him back to the bus. — Carolyn Keene

Glimpse of him. Once things got hot, I tended pretty much to my own knittin. I glanced around just once and saw him upstreet beyond them Swedes under the Bijou's marquee, " Mr. Keene said. "He wasn't wearing a clown suit or nothing like that. He was dressed in a pair of farmer's biballs and a cotton shirt underneath. But his face was covered with that white greasepaint they use, and he had a big red clown smile painted on. Also had these tufts of fake hair, you know. Orange. Sorta comical. — Stephen King