Genevieve Cogman Quotes

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.

And there was another elephant in the room. There were so many elephants in the room that it was getting positively crowded.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

All her life she had been taught that the Language allowed its users to shape reality.

Strong-minded women with a cause accepted even fewer excuses than the average gangster, when it came to getting what they wanted, and what they wanted right now was Irene making a speech.

The problem with paranoia was that if you let it rule all your decisions, then you would miss some perfectly good opportunities.

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.

..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.

global thermonuclear war

She did find that the books displayed prominently in every chamber had been dusted, but the spines were pristine and uncreased. They had the sad, untouched air of literature paraded for display purposes but never actually used. It was profoundly depressing.

We are what we make ourselves

I will have some tea fetched. That is your society does drink tea? Always, Irene said.

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.

Mother, please, hear me out. If there's something I've learned over the last few years, it's that everything people do is important. I happen to have chosen this particular thing to do with my life, and I was lucky enough to have the choice.

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

I may take a while to learn from my mistakes, but I get there eventually.

Here, you carry these. I may need my hands free.

Why the hell are we taking 'The Dream of the Red Chamber?' Light reading, if we get stuck on the subway?

No, in case we get stopped by some of Qing Song's minions who can't read Chinese.

Oh. Right. Hey, that's not a bad thought. Though if we're going to be throwing them away anyhow, why not take 'The Investiture of the Gods'...

Because I like 'The Investiture of the Gods' and I don't like 'The Dream of the Red Chamber'.

Irene sighed. "...But I do believe the Library wants an answer to what`s happened. Why else would they call you in?"
" An answer, certainly," Vale agreed. " But the truth? That might be a very dangerous commodity.

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.

That instead of running directly back to your assigned world and your work – and your prince – you're staying in the Library for long enough to have coffee. And not just a cup, but a whole pot. Has it been a bad few days?

Stuffed creatures, come to life and attack werewolves.

And aren´t you hitting the spirits a little bit heavily?"
"Who needs a liver?

Life was much easier before I had to worry about everyone else worrying,' Irene muttered. 'It's called growing up, dear. It comes with staying alive.

There were always problems in dealing with the Fae. Despite their human appearance, they were soul-destroying entities from beyond space and time who introduced chaos into alternate worlds.

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.

I think he and the Princess are engaged in an unofficial game of Who Can Show They're More Important by Arriving Last, not that either of them would admit it.

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

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

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

So much for a nice quiet evening with a good book.

Paranoia was one of the few habits that was worth keeping.

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

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.

Irene had always thought that some awakenings were better than others. For instance, waking up in bed on a morning with nothing urgent to do, a pile of books next to you, and a mug of coffee within arm's reach could be described as good. Waking up in the deserted tunnels of the London Underground to the sound of distant werewolf howls was bad. Waking up to find yourself hanging in chains in a private Inquisition Chamber was really bad. (And hell on the shoulders.)

Information was the best weapon she could have.

Oh well, hindsight always had all the best ideas.

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

Irene made a private mental resolution that if she ever became a queen, her throne would incorporate a cushion. Also a convenient bookcase.

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.

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