James A. Owen Quotes

#1. Never, ever, sacrifice what you want the most, for what you want the most at that moment.

James A. Owen

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

James A. Owen

#3. All stories are true. But some of them never happened.

James A. Owen

#4. What the good Lord giveth, he also taketh away. Then he puts it back again.

James A. Owen

#5. Not many people can lay claim to having broken Time, and we did it purely by accident.

James A. Owen

#6. Discipline, Norah. If you're going to taunt them, remember to stick out your tongue.

James A. Owen

#7. Half there, and half not," Grimalkin said, having suddenly appeared over Burton's shoulder. "Sounds implausible to me.

James A. Owen

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

James A. Owen

#9. If everything in the past has value, then there's no reason for regret, ever.

James A. Owen

#10. Sometimes a catastrophe is simply a course correction.

James A. Owen

#11. Prayers aren't for the deity ... They're for you, to recommit yourself to what you believe.

James A. Owen

#12. Interesting doesn't always equal practical, but being practical is always less interesting.

James A. Owen

#13. Bad things can happen, and often do
but they only take up a few pages of your story; and anyone can survive a few pages.

James A. Owen

#14. The Cavelries hear and their short and furrie

James A. Owen

#15. The Secret of Drawing consists of just two things: 1) Making lines on paper; and 2) Choosing where they go.

James A. Owen

#16. Some of us got our reputations because we wrote good books or had clever publicists. He got his reputation through sheer hard work.

James A. Owen

#17. Don't ascribe to evil what can be attributed to well-intentioned stupidity.

James A. Owen

#18. Extending trust to those who have already proven themselves untrustworthy is a bit like cutting off the end of a rope and sewing it to the other end to make it longer.

James A. Owen

#19. Live deliberately. Decide: are you the kind of person things happen to, or the kind of person who makes things happen?

James A. Owen

#20. You're a very odd man," said Bert.
"I get that more often than you'd think," replied Charles.

James A. Owen

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

James A. Owen

#22. That's the thing about time travel - you're always moving forward, even when you go back.

James A. Owen

#23. 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.

James A. Owen

#24. I cannot be defeated, because you are not my opponent. I cannot lose, because I am not fighting. And in the end, all I have to do to win is honor the path I have chosen and honor yours, too.

James A. Owen

#25. 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.

James A. Owen

#26. A really well-done first draft of a book bares your soul. The purpose of revision is so that everyone who reads the published version believes you were writing about theirs.

James A. Owen

#27. 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.

James A. Owen

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

James A. Owen

#29. Always, always ask for what you want. Because the Universe might surprise you - and give it to you.

James A. Owen

#30. Kind of bloodthirsty, don't you think, Charles?" said John.
"I'm an editor," said Charles. "I have to make decisions like that all the time.

James A. Owen

#31. That isn't a desperate act. That's a PLAN.

James A. Owen

#32. Sometimes, it is not about guarding something of value that is important, but rather, being a valuable guard, so that when that thing comes along that needs guarding, there is no question.

James A. Owen

#33. The single biggest advantage of being completely surrounded is that it gives you the opportunity to attack the enemy in any direction you choose.

James A. Owen

#34. If you really want to do something, no one can stop you. But if you really don't want to do something, no one can help you

James A. Owen

#35. I'm a conundrum. Or an enigma. I forget which.

James A. Owen

#36. It's Elvish," Tummeler repeated. "It says, basically, 'Declare allegiance, and be welcomed."
"Well, doesn't it perhaps mean that the magic word that opens the door is 'allegiance'?" Said Jack. "In Elvish?"
"That's a stupid idea," said John. "Then anyone who spoke Elvish could get in.

James A. Owen

#37. A choice with no consequences has no value. Making a choice knowing there will be consequences, and being willing to bear them, is what distinguishes the right choices from the wrong ones.

James A. Owen

#38. I think that nonexistent mythological creature just broke some of your toes," Jack said.
Oh, shut up," said Charles

James A. Owen

#39. It is the world, my boy," he said. "All the World, in ink and blood, vellum and parchment, leather and hide. It is the World, and it is yours to save or lose.

James A. Owen