896 Quotes by Catherynne M. Valente

Well, very splendid and very frightening. But splendid things are often frightening. Sometimes, it’s the fright that makes them splendid at all.

But the story is no good without a villain. It can’t feel true without a villain. Otherwise, everything would already be as it ought to be, yes? Someone has to be at fault. And if you are the hero, it stands to reason that folk who do not look like you or talk like you or like to eat the same things you like to eat must be the villains. After all, the world is easy and simple, is it not?

The thing to decide is what kind of monster to be. The kind who builds towns or the kind who breaks them.

Shoes are funny beasts. You think they're just clothes, but really, they're alive. They want things. Fancy ones with gems want to go to balls, big boots want to go to work, slippers want to dance. Or sleep. Shoes make the path you're on. Change your shoes, change the path.

That's Venus, September thought. She was the goddess of love. It's nice that love comes on first thing in the evening and goes out last in the morning. Love keeps the light on all night.