Wynne Quotes & Sayings

Sophie got herself to the mirror, and found that she had to hobble. The face in the mirror was quite calm, because it was what she expected to see. It was the face of a gaunt old woman, withered and brownish, surrounded by wispy white hair. Her own eyes, yellow and watery, stared out at her, looking rather tragic.
"Don't worry, old thing," Sophie said to the face. "You look quite healthy. Besides, this is much more like you really are. — Diana Wynne Jones

The tiny princess glanced up with a shy smile. "Boyth, all," she said, in a small, lisping voice. Morgan's — Diana Wynne Jones

I am a believer in free will. If my dog chooses to hate the whole human race except myself, it must be free to do so. — Diana Wynne Jones

Ontarians don't want to believe that they are small people. They want to believe that they're open and that they're inclusive - and I believe that they are. — Kathleen Wynne

And, suddenly, as if her head cleared, she was quite sure that wonderful things did indeed exist. Even if they're only in my own mind, she thought, they're there and worth fighting for. — Diana Wynne Jones

Then watch out. I warn you!"
"That is very considerate of you," said Chrestomanci. "I like to be warned. — Diana Wynne Jones

She had a silly impulse to add, But she was alive an hour ago! And she stopped herself, because death is like that: people are alive until they die. "Yes. — Diana Wynne Jones

If you were able to hear lime juice, it would sound like violins. — Diana Wynne Jones

Goats," said Maxwell Hyde, "are a special case. Mad as hatters, all of them. — Diana Wynne Jones

Everywhere he went he saw this same phenomenon - parents unmindful of their children, their attention fixed on little glass windows in the palms of their hands, mesmerized like drug addicts, longing for some artificial connection while their own flesh and blood careened wildly through a chaotic and violent world behind their backs. The writer was even worse. He invented false worlds and peopled them with ghosts while his motherless son scanned the horizon for a human connection. It was shameful. What did a man need to lose to be shaken from his immersion in a dream? What terminal force could liberate him from the pursuit of phantoms and engage him in the living world around him? — Douglas Wynne

I can't shake the feeling that all these conspiracy theorists are in on it. — Wynne McLaughlin

Howl backed into the door to shut it and leaned there in a tragic attitude. "Look at you all!" he said. "Ruin stares me in the face. I slave all day for you. And not one of you, even Calcifer, can spare time to say hello!"
Calcifer said, "I never do say hello."
"Is something wrong?" asked Sophie.
"That's better," Howl said. "Some of you are pretending to notice me at last. Yes, something is wrong. — Diana Wynne Jones

To love someone enough to let them go, you had to let them go forever or you did not love them that much. — Diana Wynne Jones

I've been driving since I was 19 years old. — Kathleen Wynne

Do you mind not being so kind and obedient? It makes me nervous. — Diana Wynne Jones

I'll show you how," Peter said. "Stop hiding behind your ignorance. — Diana Wynne Jones

That can go in the cabinet, and so can this One Ring. No, don't put it on, you fool! It's dangerous! — Diana Wynne Jones

I wrote a book on cats. In retrospect, I should have used paper, cause chapter six got hit by a car. — Wynne McLaughlin

Nobody gets praised for the right reasons. — Diana Wynne Jones

But I do think that when people say 'a learning curve,' they make a mistake. Learning to me always seems to go in a straight, ignorant line and then, every so often, takes a jump straight upward. — Diana Wynne Jones

You've rotted your mind with reading books. — Diana Wynne Jones

In every election homophobia has been part of the landscape and in every campaign I've been able to become connected enough to my constituents that they know who I am and that I can be elected on my merits. — Kathleen Wynne

She stared at the King. The King stared back. It was a disaster. — Diana Wynne Jones

How does she keep it up? How can Miss Hodge be a teacher and not use witchcraft at all? I use it all the time. How else can I have eyes in the back of my head?'
'One of the great mysteries of our time,' Chrestomanci agreed. — Diana Wynne Jones

On Wednesday, for variety, he accosted Andrew as Andrew went out to check the state of the garden walls and presented a further cardboard box containing ten kilos of tomatoes and a squash like a deformed head of a baby. — Diana Wynne Jones

He scarcely saw his parents. When Christopher was small, he was terrified that he would meet Papa out walking in the Park one day and not recognize him. — Diana Wynne Jones

Mr. Crossley suddenly wondered why he was why he was worrying about the note. It was only a joke, after all. He cleared his throat. Everyone looked up hopefully. 'Somebody,' said Mr. Crossley, 'seems to have sent me a Halloween message.' And he read out the note: 'SOMEONE IN THIS CLASS IS A WITCH.'
6B thought this was splendid news. Hands shot up all over the room like a bed of beansprouts.
'It's me, Mr. Crossley!'
'Mr. Crossley, I'm the witch!'
'Can I be the witch, Mr. Crossley?'
'Me, Mr. Crossley, me, me, me! — Diana Wynne Jones

Oh! Polly thought. Why aren't all girls locked up by law the year they turn fifteen? They do such stupid things! — Diana Wynne Jones

Please, your story, or I shall offend the dignitaries of my kingdom by yawning at holy things. — Diana Wynne Jones

Interesting things did seem to happen, but always to somebody else. — Diana Wynne Jones

You are a terror, aren't you? Leave this yard alone. I know just where everything is in it, and I won't be able to find the things I need for my transport spells if you tidy them up.'
So there was probably a bundle of souls or a box of chewed hearts somewhere out here, Sophie thought. She felt really thwarted. 'Tidying up is what I'm here for!' she shouted at Howl.
'Then you must think of a new meaning for your life,' Howl said. — Diana Wynne Jones

An artist must paint not simply surface light but what is inside, what he sees within his subject — Frank Wynne

Diana Wynne Jones' excellent book 'The Tough Guide to Fantasyland' is a compendium of the sort of lazy writing that has given fantasy fiction - especially the sub-section that features elves and dwarves and other Tolkienesque elements - a bad name. — Jane Lindskold

Until we establish a felt sense of kinship between our own species and those fellow mortals who share with us the sun and shadow of life on this agonized planet, there is no hope for other species, there is no hope for the environment, and there is no hope for ourselves. — Jon Wynne-Tyson

Writing for adults, you have to keep reminding them of what is going on. The poor things have given up using their brains when they read. Children you only need to tell things to once. — Diana Wynne Jones

Can't you just keep your big mouth shut?" Brian said furiously to Nan. He pointed to Chrestomanci. "How do we know he's safe? For all we know, he could be the devil that you summoned up!"
"Oh, you flatter me, Brian," Chrestomanci said. — Diana Wynne Jones

He held out his hand to Sophie, just like Mrs. Pentstemmon, but a little less royally. Sophie levered herself up, wondering if she was meant to kiss this hand or not. But since she felt more like raising her stick and beating the King over the head with it, she shook the King's hand and gave a creaking little curtsy. — Diana Wynne Jones

Learn to drive?"
"Never," said Quentin. "My mission in life is to be a passenger. — Diana Wynne Jones

Ryka had encouraged me to have a summer fling. The only fling I'd ever had with a guy was when Felix Lewis flung me in the air during cheeleading tryouts. — Wynne Channing

My Halloween costume is Godot. I'm not showing up at the party, just texting the host every 10 minutes that I'm on my way. — Wynne McLaughlin

So you were going to rescue the Prince! Why did you pretend to run away? To deceive the Witch?"
"Not likely! I'm a coward. Only way I can do something this frightening is to tell myself I'm not doing it! — Diana Wynne Jones

The most she knew about gardens was the Bakers' own backyard, which contained one large mulberry tree and a rosebush, plus the window boxes where her mother grew runner beans. She knew there was earth under the plants and that the earth contained worms. She shuddered. — Diana Wynne Jones

Some people are thoroughly self-centred. This thing goes with me. I need it for moral support. — Diana Wynne Jones

Calcifer," Sophie said, "I shall have to break your contract. Will it kill you?" "It would if anyone else broke it," Calcifer said hoarsely. "That's why I asked you to do it. — Diana Wynne Jones

At least, I suppose I can't blame Calcifer, since he's an evil demon. But you you Michael-!"
"I don't think I'm evil," Calcifer protested. — Diana Wynne Jones

I'm delirious. Spots are crawling before my eyes."
"Those are spiders. — Diana Wynne Jones

[A]rt is not art until it's sold. Until then it's merely a storage problem. — Frank Wynne

She said 'Over my dead body!' so I took her at her word. — Diana Wynne Jones

Look. Survey. Inspect. My hair is ruined! I look like a pan of bacon and eggs! — Diana Wynne Jones

Women don't seek power for its own sake, but to make a difference and overcome each challenge — Kathleen Wynne

Tell me of this wizard Howl of yours."
Sophie's teeth chattered, but she said proudly, "He's the best wizard in Ingary or anywhere else. If he'd only had time, he would have defeated that djinn. And he's sly and selfish and vain as a peacock and cowardly, and you can't pin him down to do anything."
"Indded?" asked Abdullah. "Strange that you should speak so proudly such a list of vices, most loving of ladies."
"What do you mean, vices?" Sophie asked angrily. "I was just describing Howl! — Diana Wynne Jones

You're wearing that hat? After all the magic I used to make your dress pretty?"

~Howl from the movie 'Howl's Moving Castle — Diana Wynne Jones

I don't think I will get married," Polly said as she stood up. "I'm going to train to be a hero instead. — Diana Wynne Jones

Howl said to Sophie, I've been wondering all along if you would turn out to be that lovely girl I met on May Day. Why were you scared then? — Diana Wynne Jones

[T]he incomparable Diana Wynne Jones, one of the finest mythic fiction writers of our age, who left us too early (due to cancer) two days ago. I'm so grateful to her for the extraordinary books she has left behind, which have inspired a whole generation of younger writers. She was writing brilliant YA fantasy before the genre (as we know it now) even existed; she was writing enchanting "wizard school" books long before Harry Potter was a gleam in Rowling's eye; and her knowledge of how to weave mythic/folkloric themes into contemporary fiction was second to no one's. Diana will be terribly missed, but through her magical stories, her light will stay on. — Terri Windling

When I say "narrative", I do not mean simply the plot, I mean considerably more. Plots and their shapes
the bare outlines of stories
were something I know J.R.R. Tolkien himself was interested in. When I was an undergraduate, I went to a course of lectures he gave on the subject
at least, I think that was the subject, because Tolkien was all but inaudible. He evidently hated lecturing, and I suspect he also hated giving his thoughts away. — Diana Wynne Jones

Somewhere in the lane after that they came level with a small door next to a fried chicken shop. There was a small red-lit sign over this door. — Diana Wynne Jones

People need to see where their dollars are going and what infrastructure is being built. — Kathleen Wynne

Dada was not an art, it was anti-art, a credo ruled by absurdity, nonsense, chance and chaos, a rejection of everything that Han believed, cherished, practiced - and it was to change art for ever — Frank Wynne

Doras II was a somewhat absentminded king, It is said, when Death came to summon him, Doras granted Death the usual formal audience and then dismissed him from his presence. Death was too embarrassed to return until many years later- Ka'a Orto'o, Gnomic Utterances — Diana Wynne Jones

It's my belief that all of the greatest tales ever told have been told in saloons. It was in such smoky, heathen-filled den of iniquity that I first heard the tale of the Bone Feud. As with all great tales, it was at its core one hundred percent true. In fact, much of it has long been a matter of historical record. But tales grow in the telling, and I therefore must apologize in advance for any inaccuracies, and beg your indulgence for any romanticized embellishments. I have decided to present the story here, just as it was told to me. I find it entirely too rich and too entertaining to alter, simply to curry favor with pedants and historians. — Wynne McLaughlin

I'm going up to my room now, where I may die. — Diana Wynne Jones

City of Wizards is normally quite a GOOD thing, since only Good WIZARDS seem able to live together ... There have been cities of EVIL Wizards in the past. You will occasionally come across the sites of these, reduced to a glassy slag during the ultimate disagreement. — Diana Wynne Jones

Jesus ... said - long before his followers had established churches and a priesthood - 'I am the Way, the Truth and the Life.' This Way is the life of the Spirit. To follow it entails no necessity for places (all places are holy ground), no priesthood, since every man becomes a priest unto God ... — Esme Wynne-Tyson

All she heard next of the strange conversation behind the sofa was Mrs. Pendragon saying something about sending Twinkle (or was his name Howl?) to bed without supper and Twinkle daring her to 'jutht TRY it. — Diana Wynne Jones

There are no rules. Only principles and natural laws. — Diana Wynne Jones

I'm beginning to think I've led a much too sheltered life. — Diana Wynne Jones

And said grace in Welsh. It was all rolling, thundering language. — Diana Wynne Jones

The most interesting thing was the talk from the customers. Nobody can buy a hat without gossiping. Sophie sat in her alcove and stitched and heard [ ... ] that Wizard Howl's castle had moved round to the cliffs again, really that man, whisper, whisper, whisper ... The voices always dropped low when they talked of Wizard Howl, [ ... ] Then there would be a fleeting, fearful whisper about the Witch of the Waste.
Sophie began to feel that Wizard Howl and the Witch of the Waste should get together. — Diana Wynne Jones

All these things that crib and cab in your brain, in your imagination, are in fact things that might well in later life drive you insane. — Diana Wynne Jones

Things we are accustomed to regard as myth or fairy story are very much present in people's lives. Nice people behave like wicked stepmothers. Every day. — Diana Wynne Jones

Really, these wizards! You'd think no one had ever had a cold before! Well, what is it?" she asked, hobbling through the bedroom door onto the filthy carpet.
"I'm dying of boredom," Howl said pathetically. "Or maybe just dying. — Diana Wynne Jones

You talk too much."
"Maybe you talk too little."
"You're going to live forever. Pace yourself."
- Lucas and Zee, What Kills Me — Wynne Channing

Actually, in the wild, we'd be the only person that we wouldn't recognize, if you think about it. — Diana Wynne Jones

Howl's voice was presently heard shouting weakly, Help me, someone! I'm dying from neglect up here! — Diana Wynne Jones

If you take myth and folklore, and these things that speak in symbols, they can be interpreted in so many ways that although the actual image is clear enough, the interpretation is infinitely blurred, a sort of enormous rainbow of every possible colour you could imagine. — Diana Wynne Jones

After that, all the while Millie was eating the pudding ... we both tore Christopher's character to shreds. It was wonderful fun ... He drove everyone mad in Chrestomanci Castle by insisting on silk shirts and exactly the right kind of pajamas. 'And he could get them right anyway by magic,' Millie told me, 'if he wasn't too lazy to learn how ... But the thing that really annoys me is the way he never bothers to learn a person's name. If a person isn't important to him, he always forgets their name.'
When Millie said this, I realized that Christopher had never once forgotten my name ... — Diana Wynne Jones

Oh confound that gray-and-scarlet suit!" Sophie said. "I refuse to believe that I was the one that got caught with it! — Diana Wynne Jones

Alas, poor Yorick!" he said. "She heard mermaids, so it follows that there is something rotten in the state of Denmark. I have caught an everlasting cold, but luckily I am terribly dishonest. I cling to that. — Diana Wynne Jones

I am always looking for ways our government can help make everyday life easier for Ontarians, and these new polymer birth certificates do just that. Having a safe and durable birth certificate will provide more security and help protect people from fraud and identify theft. — Kathleen Wynne

Yes, you are nosy. You're a dreadfully nosy, horribly bossy, appallingly clean old woman. Control yourself. You're victimizing us all. — Diana Wynne Jones

Don't interrupt,' one of the boys said. 'He'll lose his life.'
Seeing it was a matter of life and death, Sophie and Michael backed toward the door. But Howl, quite unperturbed at killing his nephew, strode over to the wall and pulled the boxes up by the roots. — Diana Wynne Jones

SHE LIKES MY SPARK!!!!--Calcifer — Diana Wynne Jones

Christopher discovered that you dealt with obnoxious masters and most older boys the way you dealt with governesses: you quite politely told them the truth in the way they wanted to hear it, so that they thought they had won and left you in peace. — Diana Wynne Jones

All I did was ask you for a role-playing game. You never warned me I'd be pitched into it for real! And I asked you for hobbits on a grail quest, and not one hobbit have I seen! — Diana Wynne Jones

It seems to me that humour is everybody's way of keeping sane and standing off from the situations so that they can see it intellectually, as well as emotionally, and I don't know whether you've noticed, but if somebody tells a joke, it's nearly always a mini fantasy. — Diana Wynne Jones

I feel ill," he announced. "I'm going to bed, where I may die." He tottered piteously to the stairs. "Bury me beside Mrs. Pentstemmon," he croaked as he went up then to bed. — Diana Wynne Jones

We should all realize that we can only talk about the bad forgeries, the ones that have been detected; the good ones are still hanging on the walls — Frank Wynne

Evidently this was the kind of man
that Estelle fell instantly in love with. — Diana Wynne Jones

In addition, Master Twinkle seems convinced that someone is denying him a pair of stripey trousers. — Diana Wynne Jones

He picked up the skull and knocked an onion ring out of its eye socket.
"I see Sophie has been busy again. Couldn't you have restrained her, my friend?" The skull yattered its teeth at him. Howl put it down rather hastily. — Diana Wynne Jones

It's all about perspective. The sinking of the Titanic was a miracle to the lobsters in the ship's kitchen. (Oct 4, 2011) — Wynne McLaughlin

Scheherazade is the classical example of a woman saving her head by using it. — Esme Wynne-Tyson

Go and catch a falling star, Get with child a mandrake root, Tell me where all past years are, Or who cleft the Devil's foot. Teach me to hear the mermaids singing, Or to keep off envy's stinging, And find What wind Serves to advance an honest mind. Decide what this is about Write a second verse yourself — Diana Wynne Jones

Parents deserve the peace of mind of knowing their children are in good hands. By investing in early childhood educators, we are supporting nurturing child care environments where children can thrive. — Kathleen Wynne

I'm going to bed, where I may die. — Diana Wynne Jones

Mother Very Easily Made Jam Sandwiches Under No Protest — Diana Wynne Jones

There is a temptation in politics to look for simplistic slogans and to play the game in a way that looks like you're a savvy politician. — Kathleen Wynne

You people keep spoiling my plans. First Wizard Suliman would not come near the Waste, so that I had to threaten Princess Valeria in order to make the King order him out here. Then, when he came, he grew trees. — Diana Wynne Jones

She was remorseless, but she lacked method. — Diana Wynne Jones