Shadwell hated all southerners and, by inference, was standing at the North Pole.

The truth is a fog, in which one man sees the heavenly host and the other one sees a flying elephant.

If I knew that I could die, I would live. My life, my death, my choice.

They think written words are even more powerful,’ whispered the toad. ‘They think all writing is magic. Words worry them. See their swords? They glow blue in the presence of lawyers.

Only Ron's dog was watching William. He considered that it had, for a dog, a very offensive and knowing look. A couple of months ago someaone had tried to hand William the old story about there being a dog in the city that could talk. (...) The dog in front of William didn't look as if it could talk, but it DID look as if it would swear.

Never trust any complicated cocktail that remains perfectly clear until the last ingredient goes in, and then immediately clouds.

I thought unicorns were more . . . Fluffy.