There is always a choice, even if the alternatives don't appear to be equal.

Touchstone watched, suddenly conscious that he probably only had five seconds left to be alone with Sabriel, to say something, to say anything. Perhaps the last five seconds they ever would have alone together. I am not afraid, he said to himself. "I love you," he whispered. "I hope you don't mind.

There were also very special or dangerous items that had to be fetched in person, or even by large parties of armed librarians.

But we survived, didn’t we? That makes it an adventure. If you get killed it’s a tragedy.

Knowledge, like all things, is best in moderation," intoned the Will. "Knowing everything means you don't need to think, and that is very dangerous.

I think having an open mind about these things is probably the most important thing, because even though I've never had an experience of the supernatural, something I couldn't explain.

Time and death sleep side by side.