Catherynne M. Valente, Deathless

Catherynne M. Valente, Deathless

"Someone ought to write a novel about me,” said Lebedeva loftily. “I shouldn’t care if they lied to make it more interesting, as long as they were good lies, full of kisses and daring escapes and the occasional act of barbarism. I can’t abide a poor liar."
44 Quotes
"Someone ought to write a novel about me,” said Lebedeva loftily. “I shouldn’t care if they lied to make it more interesting, as long as they were good lies, full of kisses and daring escapes and the occasional act of barbarism. I can’t abide a poor liar."
Catherynne M. Valente, Deathless
"Histories are instruments of oppression."
Catherynne M. Valente, Deathless
"But she never could keep it straight. All the letters, the acronyms, the codes, the colors, changing like musical chairs, every week, every month. Games demons play. It meant nothing to her, except in a charming sort of way, as it had when Naganya wanted to play at interrogation, while the rest of them wanted chess."
Catherynne M. Valente, Deathless
"I will never be without information,' she determined. 'I will do better than my sisters. If a bird or any other beast comes out of that uncanny republic where husbands are grown, I will see him with his skin off before I agree to fall in love.' For this is how Marya Morevna surmised that love was shaped: an agreement, a treaty between two nations that one could either sign or not as they pleased."
Catherynne M. Valente, Deathless
"She was not filled up with the sight of him, the way she had seen her sisters fill up, like silk balloons, like wineskins. Instead, he seemed to land heavily within her, like a black stone falling."
Catherynne M. Valente, Deathless
"You will always fall in love, and it will always be like having your throat cut, just that fast."
Catherynne M. Valente, Deathless
"The ghosts will eat everything because the bellies of ghosts want the whole world, just to fill one tiny corner."
Catherynne M. Valente, Deathless
"When I say forever,' Koschei whispered, 'I mean until the black death of the world. An Ivan means just the present moment, the flickering light of it, in a green field, his mouth on yours. He means the stretching of that moment. But forever isn't bright; it isn't like that. Forever is cold and hard and final."
Catherynne M. Valente, Deathless
"Let the truth be told: There is no virtue anywhere. Life is sly and unscrupulous, a blackguard, wolfish, severe. In service to itself, it will commit any offense. So, too, is Death possessed of infinite strategies and a gaunt nature—but also mercy, also grace and tenderness. In his own country, Death can be kind. But of an end to their argument, we shall have none, not ever, until the end of all."
Catherynne M. Valente, Deathless
"Everyone is a criminal! We are beset on all sides by antirevolutionary forces. Naturally, then, humans fall into three categories: the criminal, the not-yet-criminal, and the not-yet-caught."
Catherynne M. Valente, Deathless
"It was at thirteen years old that Marya Morevna learned how to keep a secret, and that secrets are jealous things, permitting no fraternization."
Catherynne M. Valente, Deathless
"I will age for you, if it pleases you. I will match you, wrinkle for wrinkle, grey hair for grey hair, crease for crease, wrinkle for wrinkle. You will be so beautiful when you are old."
Catherynne M. Valente, Deathless
"Why should he be spared''Someone ought to be.' And it will not be me. I have survived, but I have not been spared."
Catherynne M. Valente, Deathless
"I have survived, but I have not been spared."
Catherynne M. Valente, Deathless
"Life is like that. Death sweeps it away. That's what death is for. That's why they keep telling this story. It's the only story."
Catherynne M. Valente, Deathless
"I thought that for a long while, but you chose me, and then you chose him, and choosing is hard - one choice is never the end of the story."
Catherynne M. Valente, Deathless
"Husbands lie, Masha. I should know; I've eaten my share. That's lesson one. Lesson number two: among the topics about which a husband is most likely to lie are money, drink, black eyes, political affiliation, and women who squatted on his lap before and after your sweet self."
Catherynne M. Valente, Deathless
"Just tell yourself a story that'll satisfy you and pretend he told it."
Catherynne M. Valente, Deathless
"it is better to be strong and cruel than to be fair. At least, one eats better that way. And morality is more dependent on the state of one's stomach than of one's nation"
Catherynne M. Valente, Deathless
"Koschei the Deathless made a face as he tasted the wine. "It is far too sweet. Comrade Stalin fears bitterness and has the tastes of a spoiled princess. I savor bitterness--it is born of experience. It is the privilege of one who has truly lived. You, too, must learn to prefer it. After all, when all else is gone, you may still have bitterness in abundance."
Catherynne M. Valente, Deathless
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