There are, always and only, the bad people, but some of them are on opposite sides.

The shortest unit of time in the multiverse is the New York Second, defined as the period of time between the traffic lights turning green and the cab behind you honking.

Although the scythe isn't pre-eminent among the weapons of war, anyone who has been on the wrong end of, say, a peasants' revolt will know that in skilled hands it is fearsome.

Polly felt questing eyes boring into her. She was embarrassed, of course. But not for the obvious reason. It was for the other one, the little lesson that life sometimes rams home with a stick: you are not the only one watching the world. Other people are people; while you watch them they watch you, and they think about you while you think about them. The world isn’t just about you.

If there was anything that depressed him more than his own cynicism, it was that quite often it still wasn't as cynical as real life.

Few things are hidden from a quiet child with good eyesight.

Verence would rather cut his own leg off than put a witch in prison, since it'd save trouble in the long run and probably be less painful.