James A. Owen

“Astraeus,' Aven called out. 'God of the four winds and friend to sailors. Say a little prayer when you look at him, so he will give us what we need to keep our course.'A little prayer?' said Jack. 'To a constellation?'To what it represents,' said Aven.But I don't believe in what it represents,' said Jack.Prayers aren't for the deity,' said Aven. 'They're for you, to recommit yourself to what you believe.'Can't you do that without praying to a dead Greek god?'Sure,' said Aven. 'But how often would anyone do that, if not in prayer?”

“That's one benefit of travelling to your own future, and making the trip part of your past.”

“said Jack matter-of-factly. "I'm a man. We're made to think more quickly." ...Aven swung her fist and clocked Jack square on the chin, knocking him backward into the balloon, which was still under repair....Aven rubbed her knuckles and looked at the others. "Sorry about that. I might have stopped myself from hitting him, but I didn't think of it quickly enough.”

“I think the idea of simply "enduring to the end" is a terrible philosophy and an awful way to live one's life. How you spend your days is how you live your life, and if you're spending them "enduring" anything then you're doing it wrong.”

“All stories are true. But some of them never happened.”

“Just because I'm a murdering, thieving, cowardly, traitorous sort doesn't mean I can't do my job properly.”

“Simple,' Tummeler replied.' Blueberries is one of the great forces o'good in the world.' How do you figure that?' said Charles. Well,' said Tummeler, 'have you ever seen a troll, or a Wendigo, or,' he shuddered, 'a Shadow-Born ever eating a blueberry pie?' No,' Charles admitted. There y'go,' said Tummeler. It's cause they can't stand the goodness in it.' Can't argue with you there,' said Charles. Foods is good and evil, just like people, or badgers, or even scowlers.' Evil food?' said Charles. Parsnips,' said Tummeler, 'Them's as evil as they come.”

“Jack," said Charles, "he's making up words again.""Yes," Jack replied, "but he's getting better at it, don't you think?”

“It ain't bragging if you've done it. There's nothing wrong with being proud of doing something well. In fact, if you intend to do something creative for a living, it's absolutely essential.[check for wording] Proper pride says, "I'm good at this." Improper pride says, "I'm better than you.”

“Your ability to shape your destiny is directly proportional to your belief that it is a matter of will and determination--however much or little that belief may be.”

“If I can't joke about imminent death, then I might as well just resign.”

“I'm a conundrum. Or an enigma. I forget which.”