Simran > Simran's Quotes

“As if you were on fire from within.

The moon lives in the lining of your skin.”
― Pablo Neruda

“And so they played some of the world's loveliest piano music - the exiled homesick girl, the humiliated, tired old man. Not properly. Better than that.”
― Eva Ibbotson, A Countess Below Stairs

“Slowly, Anna put up a hand to his muzzle and began to scratch that spot behind the ear where large dogs keep their souls.”
― Eva Ibbotson, A Countess Below Stairs

“Loneliness had taught Harriet that there was always someone who understood - it was just so often that they were dead, and in a book.”
― Eva Ibbotson, A Company of Swans

“When you're sad, my Little Star, go out of doors. It's always better underneath the open sky.”
― Eva Ibbotson, A Countess Below Stairs

“She was so intelligent that she could think herself into beauty. Intelligence...they don't talk about it much, the poets, but when a woman is intelligent and passionate and good...”
― Eva Ibbotson, A Company of Swans

“Shadows are cool and peaceful places for those whose minds are overstocked with treasure.”
― Eva Ibbotson, A Countess Below Stairs

“But she had to know words. She had to know everything.”
― Eva Ibbotson

“I want to live like music sounds."- Ruth”
― Eva Ibbotson, The Morning Gift

“You cannot stop the birds of sorrow from flying over your head, but you can stop them nesting in your hair.”
― Eva Ibbotson, The Dragonfly Pool

“How dare you suppose that I don't know who you are or what you are? That I don't understand what I see? Do you take me for some kind of besotted schoolboy? It is unspeakable! You could weigh as much as a hippopotamus and shave your head and wear a wig and it wouldn't make a difference to me. I never said you were beautiful. I never thought it. I said that you were you.”
― Eva Ibbotson, A Countess Below Stairs

“They were steaming out of the station before Maia asked, 'Was it books in the trunk?'
'It was books, admitted Miss Minton.
And Maia said, 'Good.”
― Eva Ibbotson, Journey to the River Sea

“Not a frog, I hope?” he asked…She shook her head. “No. And if it was I wouldn’t kiss it, I promise you. I might kiss a prince if I could be sure he’d turn into a frog, but not the other way around.”
― Eva Ibbotson, A Song for Summer

“He then kissed her.

It was a very long time before he let her go. When he did, she looked up at him, hurt and bewilderment on her face.

“Why did you stop?” asked Tessa.

“I thought you might want to breathe,” said Guy carefully.

“Breathe?” said Tessa, shocked. “I don’t need to breathe when I’m with you.”
― Eva Ibbotson

“For an instant she felt his touch on her cheek then he stepped back. There that was my ration for all eternity. People have died for less I dare say.”
― Eva Ibbotson, A Countess Below Stairs

“Please, God,' Ruth would pray, 'don't let me be competitive. Let me realize what a privilege it is to study. Let me remember that knowledge must be pursued for its own sake and please, please stop me wanting to beat Verena Plackett in the exams.'

She prayed hard and she meant what she said. But God was busy that autumn as the International Brigade came back, defeated, from Spain, Hitler's bestialities increased, and sparrows everywhere continued to fall.”
― Eva Ibbotson, The Morning Gift

“She took a deep breath, inhaling the night air scented with hay, honeysuckle and the rich waters of the lake, listened to the music and laughter coming from the theatre, tilted her head to the the stars. She had never seen them so brilliant and clear. Cassiopeia, Orion, the great girdle of the Milky Way-and her own birth sign, Gemini. With such staggering beauty in the world, how could anyone not rejoice?

It seemed however, that 'anyone' could. For at once came the age-old cry of lovers since time began. 'What are the stars if i am not gazing at them with him? What is beauty except something we share?”
― Eva Ibbotson, The Reluctant Heiress

“I would let her...have adventures. I would let her...choose her path. It would be hard...it was hard...but I would do it. Oh, not completely, of course. Some things have to go on. Cleaning one's teeth, arithmetic. But Maia fell in love with the Amazon. It happens. THe place was for her - and the people. Of course there was some danger, but there is danger everywhere. Two years ago, in this school, there was an outbreak of typhus, and three girls died. CHildren are knocked down and killed by horses every week, here in these streets--" She broke off, gathering her thoughts. "When she was traveling and exploring...and finding her songs, Maia wasn't just happy, she was...herself. I think something broke in Maia when her parents died, and out there it healed. Perhaps I'm mad--and the professor too-- but I think children must lead big lives...if it is in them to do so.”
― Eva Ibbotson, Journey to the River Sea

“One can always bear what is right.”
― Eva Ibbotson, Island of the Aunts

“What are you afraid of then?'
She pondered. He had already noticed that it was her hands which indicated what she was thinking of quite as much as her face and now he watched as she cupped them, making them ready to receive her thoughts.
'Not being able to see, I think,' she said.
'Being blind, you mean?'
'No, not that. That would be terrible hard but Homer managed it and our blind piano tuner is one of the serenest people I know. I mean ... not seeing because you're obsessed by something that blots out the world. Some sort of mania of belief. Or passion. That awful kind of love that makes leaves and birds and cherry blossom invisible because it's not the face on some man.”
― Eva Ibbotson, A Song for Summer

“...Adventures, once they were over, were things that had to stay inside one--that no one else could quite understand.”
― Eva Ibbotson, Journey to the River Sea

“Those who think of the Amazon as a Green Hell,” she read in an old book with a tattered spine, “bring only their own fears and prejudices to this amazing land. For whether a place is a hell or a heaven rests in yourself, and those who go with courage and an open mind may find themselves in Paradise.”
― Eva Ibbotson, Journey to the River Sea

“[Tessa] knew about phantom limbs [....] Her cheek, where the Englishman's fingers had been, did not exactly ache ... but very strangely, most curiously ... it felt.”
― Eva Ibbotson, The Reluctant Heiress

“You’ll never know what you’ve done for me,” he said as they reached the gates of the level crossing. “If there’s anything you want--”
Clovis grinned. “Can I have Maia when she’s grown up?”
Finn’s smile vanished in an instant.
“No,” he said.”
― Eva Ibbotson, Journey to the River Sea

“Smells are odd things. They follow you about when you’re not thinking about them, but when you put your nose to where they ought to be, they aren’t there. The”
― Eva Ibbotson, The Secret of Platform 13

“When you know what you want you usually get it.”
― Eva Ibbotson, Journey to the River Sea

“It is a fearful thing to love what time can touch.”
― Eva Ibbotson, The Reluctant Heiress

“Clovis straightened himself. He squared his shoulders. He tossed back his curls. Then slowly, with immense dignity, he climbed the cellar steps.
“Unhand my servant, please,” he ordered the crows. “As you see, I am Finn Taverner.”
The crows let go of the Indian. They stared at the golden-haired youth who had appeared at the top of the cellar steps. The boy’s breeding showed in every movement; he was an undoubted and true aristocrat. Here before them was The Blood which Sir Aubrey longed for, and they were filled with joy.
The boy now addressed his servant. “You have served me well, Kumari,” he said--and every word was crystal clear; the words of a perfect English gentleman, speaking slowly to a foreigner. “Now I give you your freedom. And with it, this token of my thanks.”
And out of the pocket of his tunic he took a watch on a long chain which he handed to the Indian.
“But, sir,” said Mr. Trapwood, who had seen the glint of silver. “Should you--”
“I am a Taverner,” said Clovis. “And no one shall say that I am not grateful to those who have served me. And now, gentlemen, I am ready. I take it you have reserved a first-class cabin for me?”
“Well,” began Mr. Low.
Mr. Trapwood kicked his shin. “It shall be arranged, sir,” he said. “Everything will be taken care of.”
“Good. I should like to go on board immediately.”
“Yes, sir, of course. If you’ll just come with us.”
Clovis bowed to Miss Minton, then to Maia. His eyes were dry and his dignity was matchless.
Then he followed the crows out of the museum.”
― Eva Ibbotson, Journey to the River Sea

“Would you like me to stop talking? Because I can. I have to concentrate, but it's possible”
― Eva Ibbotson, The Morning Gift

“Knowing it was her last night on the Arabella, Maia fought against sleep. She must remember it all--the lapping of the water against the side of the boat, the white moths, the fireflies…
Finn, too, was awake. “When we’re grown up I’ll come back for you, I promise. No one can stop us then.”
― Eva Ibbotson, Journey to the River Sea