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I had never been able to truly hate anyone who’d suffered, no matter what evils they’d done in the aftermath.
N. K. Jemisin -
In the 'Dreamblood' books, I'm focusing more on what I like about epic fantasy: the layering and depth of tension; the chance to really delve into the minutia of an alternate society and its politics; a large cast of characters to love and hate.
N. K. Jemisin
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'They follow the creed of the Bright: that which disturbs the order of society must be eliminated, regardless of whether it caused the disturbance.' She rolled her eyes. 'You’d think they’d get tired of parroting Itempas and start thinking for themselves after two thousand years.'
N. K. Jemisin -
There is no greater warrior than a mother protecting her child.
N. K. Jemisin -
But love like that doesn’t just disappear, does it? No matter how powerful the hate, there’s always a little love left, underneath.Yes. Horrible, isn’t it?
N. K. Jemisin -
'I'm tired of being what everyone else has made me,' I said. 'I want to be myself.''Don’t be a child.'I looked up, startled and angry, though of course there was nothing to see. 'What?''You are what your creators and experiences have made you, like every other being in this universe. Accept that and be done; I’m tired of your whining.'
N. K. Jemisin -
As a black woman, I have no particular interest in maintaining the status quo. Why would I? The status quo is harmful; the status quo is significantly racist and sexist and a whole bunch of other things that I think need to change.
N. K. Jemisin -
But perhaps that was just the way of power: no such thing as too much.
N. K. Jemisin
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I understand that mutual dissatisfaction is a factor in their collaboration. I imagine it isn’t a far step from mutual goals to mutual respect, and from there to love.
N. K. Jemisin -
'I keep hoping you’ll tell me. You’re the god, after all. If I prayed to you for guidance, and you decided to answer, what would you tell me?''I wouldn’t answer.''Because you don’t care? Or because you wouldn’t know what to say?'More silence.
N. K. Jemisin -
Good intentions are pointless without the will to implement them.
N. K. Jemisin -
'I will not beg your forgiveness,' she said. Only her voice betrayed her fear; it was not its usual strong, clear tone. 'I did what I felt was right.''Of course you did,' I said. 'It was the wise thing to do.'
N. K. Jemisin -
It is important to appreciate beauty, even when it is evil.
N. K. Jemisin -
What happened when people who’d once possessed absolute power suddenly lost it?
N. K. Jemisin
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I knew what it was at last-the visible manifestation of my will. My power, inherited from my god ancestors and distilled through generations of humanity, given shape and energy and potential. That was all magic was, really, in the end. Possibility. With it I could create anything, provided I believed.
N. K. Jemisin -
I was beginning to understand, a little. 'Is that why you’re a usurer?'Madding chuckled. 'I prefer the term investor. And my rates are perfectly fair, thank you.''Drug dealer, then.''I prefer the term independent apothecary-'
N. K. Jemisin -
There’s not such thing as magic that does no harm.
N. K. Jemisin -
Love betrayed has an entirely different sound from hatred outright.
N. K. Jemisin -
It’s all right to need help. All of us have things we can’t do alone.
N. K. Jemisin -
When people questioned this, the priests simply said, The world has changed. We must change with it.You can imagine how well that went over.
N. K. Jemisin
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I am not as I once was. They have done this to me, broken me open and torn out my heart. I do not know who I am anymore. I must try to remember.
N. K. Jemisin -
There is no logic to grief.
N. K. Jemisin -
...and when I lift my head to scream out my fury, a million stars turn black and die. No one can see them, but they are my tears.
N. K. Jemisin -
So here is why I write what I do: We all have futures. We all have pasts. We all have stories. And we all, every single one of us, no matter who we are and no matter what’s been taken from us or what poison we’ve internalized or how hard we’ve had to work to expel it – – we all get to dream.
N. K. Jemisin