You didn’t get the quest you wanted, you got the one you could do.

It was so much easier to be angry. Being angry made him feel strong, even though-- and this contradiction did nothing to diminish his anger-- he was angry only because his position was so weak.

I have no doubt there are magician psychopaths, and magician serial killers. I doubt Brakebills admissions is very good at screening for those.

The paradox of the English country house is that its state of permanent decline, the fact that its heyday is always behind it, is part of the seduction, just as it is part of the seduction of books in general.

The problem with growing up is that once you're grown up, the people who aren't grown up aren't fun anymore.

My book group has one rule: no books for adults. We read young adult fiction only.

The process of learning is a nonstop orgy of wonderment.