487 Quotes by Cornelia Funke

It [the book] was spinning a magic spell around her heart, sticky as a spider's web and enchantingly beautiful..

There is a sort of busy worm, That will the fairest book deform. Their tasteless tooth will tear and taint The poet, patriot, sage or saint, Nor sparing wit nor learning. Now, if you’d know the reason why, The best of reasons I’ll supply: ’Tis bread to the poor vermin. J. Doraston, quoted by W. Blades

But fear was an emotion Jacob almost enjoyed. It lured him to dark places, through forbidden doors and far away from himself. Even the yearning for his father could be drowned in it.

Fear was not red, fear is pale as a dead man's face

Down there the nights are bright and nobody believes in the Devil.

Books loved anyone who opened them, they gave you security and friendship and didn't ask for anything in return; they never went away, never, not even when you treated them badly. Love, truth, beauty, wisdom and consolation against death. Who had said that? Someone else who loved books.

When the heart craved something so forcefully, then reason became nothing but helpless observer.

But that was the trouble with this world--at heart, it was childish.

If anyone would ever bring back the words, he supposed it would be the children.