It did seem hard to be doing something heroic while everyone was too busy to notice.
Frances HardingeI find it hard to believe that a lady like...โ Pertellis hesitated, and coughed. โThere is something elevated in the female spirit that will always hold a woman back from the coldest and most vicious forms of villainy.โ โNo, there isnโt,โ Miss Kitely said kindly but firmly, as she set a dish in his hand. โDrink your chocolate, Mr Pertellis.
Frances HardingeBrand a man as a thief and no one will ever hire him for honest labor - he will be a hardened robber within weeks. The brand does not reveal a person's nature, it shapes it.
Frances HardingeTruth is dangerous. It topples palaces and kills kings. It stirs gentle men to rage and bids them take up arms. It wakes old grievances and opens forgotten wounds. It is the mother of the sleepless night and the hag-ridden day. And yet there is one thing that is more dangerous than Truth. Those who would silence Truthโs voice are more destructive by far. It is most perilous to be a speaker of Truth. Sometimes one must choose to be silent, or be silenced. But if a truth cannot be spoken, it must at least be known. Even if you dare not speak truth to others, never lie to yourself.
Frances HardingeWords were dangerous when loosed. They were more powerful than cannon and more unpredictable than storms. They could turn menโs heads inside out and warp their destinies. They could pick up kingdoms and shake them until they rattled.
Frances HardingeTips for aspiring writers: don't be afraid of writing rubbish. It's very easy to become hypnotised by an empty page or screen. It's tempting to abandon a half-finished work because you can't make it perfect. I hereby give you permission to write things that aren't perfect, make mistakes, try things that don't work, experiment with styles you're not used to and generally throw words around. You'll learn much faster that way.
Frances Hardinge