From the simplest lyric to the most complex novel, literature is asking us to pay attention. Pay attention to the frog. Pay attention to the west wind. Pay attention to the boy on the raft, the lady on the tower, the old man on the train. In sum, pay...
At times I feel as if I am spread out over the landscape and inside things, and am myself living in every tree, in the splashing of the waves, in the clouds and the animals that come and go, in the procession of the seasons. There is nothing in the T...
I said that when I looked at photographs of the firefighters who went into the Twin Towers, their faces looked to me like Irish faces. I hadn't yet learnt how careful outsiders have to be when talking about race in America, and I'd put my foot in it....
Books aren’t made in the way that babies are: they are made like pyramids, There’s some long-pondered plan, and then great blocks of stone are placed one on top of the other, and it’s back-breaking, sweaty, time consuming work. And all to no pu...
Yvette is a woman who looks like a church bell. Her copper body curves with purpose, angles on a chair as if from a tower overlooking a village by the sea. Her bones are strong everywhere, in her cheeks, her shoulders, her hands. They are made from s...
Sir Francis Walsingham: Your Grace is arrested. You must go with these men to the Tower. Norfolk: I must do nothing by your orders. I am Norfolk! Sir Francis Walsingham: You were Norfolk. Sir Francis Walsingham: [shows him his own signature on the tr...
[the Fat Lady has finally let them into Gryffindor Tower; both Harry and Seamus are talking at the same time] Harry: She's still doing it, after three years, I mean... Seamus Finnegan: I can't believe she still does that... Harry, Seamus Finnegan: [...
[Aragorn and Gimli are looking at the Uruk-hai, but are separated from them by a gap] Gimli: Oh come on, we can take 'em. Aragorn: It's a long way. Gimli: Toss me. Aragorn: What? Gimli: I cannot jump the distance, you'll have to toss me. Gimli: [paus...
[sounds of trees 'speaking' is heard] Aragorn: Gimli, lower your axe. Legolas: They have feelings, my friend. The elves began it, waking up the trees, teaching them to speak. Gimli: Talking trees. What do trees have to talk about, hmm... except the c...
Haldir: I bring word from Lord Elrond of Rivendell. An Alliance once existed between Elves and Men. Long ago we fought and died together. We come to honor that allegiance. Aragorn: Mae govannen, Haldir. You are most welcome. Haldir: We are proud to f...
Gimli: It's true you don't see many Dwarf-women. And in fact, they are so alike in voice and appearance, that they are often mistaken for Dwarf-men. Aragorn: [whispering to Eowyn] It's the beards. Gimli: And this in turn has given rise to the belief ...
[Treebeard is is walking through the fores, carrying Merry and Pippin] Treebeard: I believe you will enjoy this next one, too. It is one of my own compositions. Ahem. 'Beneath the roof of sleeping... leaves and dreams of trees untold, When woodland h...
Merry: [of the Entmoot] It's been going for hours. Pippin: They must have decided something by now. Treebeard: Decided? No, we have just finished saying "Good Morning". Merry: But it's night time already! You can't take forever! Treebeard: Now, don't...
Sam: [looking at the Haradrim army] Who are they? Gollum: Wicked men. Servants of Sauron. They are called to Mordor. The Dark One is gathering all armies to him. It won't be long now. He will soon be ready. Sam: Ready to do what? Gollum: To make his ...
Gamling: Every villager able to wield a sword has been sent to the armory... my lord? Theoden: Who am I, Gamling? Gamling: You are our king, sire. Theoden: And do you trust your king? Gamling: Your men, my Lord, will follow you to whatever end. Theod...
Theoden: Crops can be re-sown, homes re-built. Within these walls... we will outlast them. Aragorn: They do not come to destroy Rohan's crops or villages. They come to destroy its people. Down to the last child. Theoden: What will you have me do? Loo...
H.ma: I cannot allow you before Theoden King so armed, Gandalf Greyhame... by order of Grima Wormtongue. [Gandalf nods, and they hand over their weapons] H.ma: Your staff. Gandalf: Oh... you would not part an old man from his walking stick? [Hama let...
Stephen Hawking: I will write a book. Jane Hawking: About what? Stephen Hawking: Time. Jane Hawking: Time? Stephen Hawking: What is the nature of time? Will it ever come to an end? Can we go back in time? Some day these answers may seem as obvious to...
[Gaston and the Beast are battling on the tower] Gaston: It's over, Beast! Belle is mine! [the Beast strikes at Gaston, grabs him and holds him over the edge] Gaston: Let me go! Let me go, please! Don't hurt me! I'll do anything! Anything! [after a t...
Dr. Emmett Brown: Marty, I'm sorry, but the only power source capable of generating 1.21 gigawatts of electricity is a bolt of lightning. Marty McFly: [startled] What did you say? Dr. Emmett Brown: A bolt of lighting. Unfortunately, you never know wh...
From The Ghost Wars- on the concept of the Torah as ancient science fiction. “Take the story of the fall of the tower of Babel. Let’s say this represents not an act of God, nor a metaphor for this planet’s diverse linguistic heritage; but a cat...
