Quote it

One of my favorite types of blog posts is to pull out quotes that really stuck with me, or quotes that jumped out at me as I read the novel. This is what I will do for Christopher Paolini's Eldest.  This is the second novel of the inheritance cycle so obviously there may be a few spoilers.  Proceed at your own risk.

"Why do you resist the order of things?"
"Because we can better ourselves, he answered Saphira.  Should we give in to our impulses to hurt or kill any who anger us, to take whatever we want from those who are weaker, and, in general, to disregard the feelings of others?  We are made imperfect and must guard against our flaws lest they destroy us."


"on its own, being a decent person is no guarantee that you will act well, which brings us back to the one protection we have against demagogues, tricksters, and the madness of crowds, and our surest guide through the uncertain shoal of life: clear and reasoned thinking.  Logic will never fail you, unless you're unaware of-or deliberately ignore-the consequences of your deeds."

"Eragon, you are only a cripple if you consider yourself one.  I  understand how you feel, but you must remain optimistic, for a negative outlook is more of a handicap than nay physical injury. I speak from personal experience.  Pitying yourself serves neither you nor Saphira."

"Do not be shy to ask what lies in your heart."

"A place where we are responsible for our own actions, where we can be kind to one another because we want to and because it is the right thing to do instead of being frightened into behaving by the threat of divine punishment.  I won't tell you what to believe, Eragon.  It is far better to be taught to think critically and then be allowed to make your own decisions than to have someone else's notions thrust upon you."

I challenge anyone to read these quotes and browse the books on this blog and still think that juvenile fiction is "kiddy" or "lacking depth"  or "just for little kids.'

Thinking critically...that's kids stuff.