Scott Westerfeld Quotes

Which was worse: a friend with brain damage, or one who despised you?

So what are those balloons for? In case you fall off your hoverboard?' -- Tally to Peris

...I want those perfect eyes and lips, and for everyone to look at me and gasp. And for everyone who sees me to think Who's that? and want to get to know me, and listen to what I say." "I'd rather have something to say.

The human heart is a strange vessel. Love and hatred can exist side by side.

But you weren't born expecting that kind of beauty in everyone, all the time. You just got programmed into thinking anything else is ugly.

Sometimes the facts in my head get bored and decide to take a walk in my mouth. Frequently this is a bad thing.

Out here, you find out that the city fools you about how things really work.

Maybe this was how you stayed sane in wartime: a handful of noble deeds amid the chaos.

What happens when perfection isn't good enough?

I know what it’s like to be manipulated, Aya-la. And I know what it’s like to be in danger. While your city was building you mansions to live in, my friends and I have been protecting this planet. We’ve spilled more blood than you have flowing in your veins. So don’t try to make me feel guilty! -Tally Youngblood, Extras

I'd watched too many schoolmates graduate into mental institutions, into group homes and jails, and I knew that locking people up was paranormal - against normal, not beside it. Locks didn't cure; they strangled.

Maybe they didn't want you to realize that every civilization has its weakness. There's always one thing we depend on. And if someone takes it away all that's left is some story in a history class.

She wasn't here to gawk. She was an infiltrator, a sneak, an ugly. And she had a mission.

He thinks Goliath can end the war," Alek managed at last. "The man wants peace!" "As do we all," Count Volger said. "But there are many ways to end a war. Some are more peaceful than others.

I love you all. But it's time to say good-bye, for now. be careful with the world, or the next time we meet, it might get ugly. -Tally Youngblood

I like my first lines short and declarative. No complicated sentences. Of course, that's not really a Scott thing. It's pretty classic grab-the-reader technique.

History would indicate that the majority of people have always been sheep.

the parties are no fun until everyone gets drunk

And over all those sleepy weeks, the dream always ended the same way, with the dragon coming for the princess saying the same words every time.... "Face it, Tally-wa, you're Special.

That's how things were out here in the wild, she was learning. Dangerous or beautiful. Or both.

there was a beautiful princess with a prince kissing her lips only the prince was totally ugly

You’d best ask the lady boffin, sir,” Newkirk said. “Midshipmen aren’t allowed to have opinions.

Where did you get that idea for a nose? - Frizz Mizuno

Making ourselves feel ugly is not fun." "We are ugly.

He turned to face her again, his late-pretty composure crumbling. "But you're..." "Pretty? Think again." She smiled. "I'm Tally Youngbood. My mind is very ugly. And I'm taking your car.

That Shay was in possesion of hand grenades was a comforting thought showed what kind of night this had become.

Dare to ask, "Where is my novel too simple?"

Dying is one of those things that can’t be fixed. Not by talking about it, not with all the brain surge in the world.

It's just the way things are." she shrugged. "It's no one's fault." "Or everyone's.

Dess shook her head. "Before he walked off, Rex said for you to wait. He said it's totally important you don't touch Angie until he comes back. and he said that if you were a pain about it, I get to hit you with that." She pointed to where the darkling had flung Flabbergasted Supernumerary Mathematician, its tip blackened by ichor and fire. "So, go ahead.

Their reasons don't mean anything unless I have a choice.

She couldn't disappoint the whole village. There were no wallscreens here, no newsfeeds or satellites bands, and touring soccer teams were no doubt few and far between. (...), that made stories a valuable commodity, and it probably wasn't very often that a stranger dropped in from the sky.

What you do, the way you think, makes you beautiful.

But you know what? It's not my behavior I'm worried about anymore. It's yours.

Suddenly a pair of searchlights lanced out from the frigate. They swept across the dark expanse - bright knives slicing the night into pieces.

you're infamous, Tally. Everyone's terrified of you. The new system may have made the other cities nervous, but they seem to think my little gang of psychotic sixteen-year-olds is worse" - Cable to Tally

You can't blame a match for a house made of straw, Alek.

Money's the same, whoever gives it to you. That was the point of money, after all: crisp and clean or wrinkled or disintegrated into quarters - a dollar was always worth a hundred cents.

You fiddle lucker!' she cried.

And it was pretty clear that no prince was showing up, or at least that he was really late.

Okay... That's still blind-making.

Tally sighed, tipping her feet again to follow. "Maybe that's because they have better stuff to do than kid tricks. Maybe partying in town is better than hanging out in a bunch of old ruins." Shay's eyes flashed. "Or maybe when they do the operation-when they grind and stretch your bones to the right shape, peel off your face and rub all your skin away, and stick in plastic cheekbones so you look like everyone else-maybe after going through all that you just aren't very interesting anymore.

Left alone, human beings are a plague. They multiply relentlessly, consuming every resource, destroying everything they touch.

My name is tally youngblood and my mind is very ugly

She smiled, turning toward Alek. "You don't know what a friend you have in Dylan.

What about a hoverboard?" "It's waiting on the roof, of course." Dr. Cable snorted. "What is it about you miscreants and those things?

But they're already singing our praises!" "They are Americans. They toot their horns for anything.

She thought of the orchids spreading across the plains below, choking the life out of other plants, out of the soil itself, selfish and unstoppable. Tally Youngblood was a weed. And, unlike the orchids, she wasn't even a pretty one.