N. K. Jemisin

Put people in a cage and they will devote themselves to escaping it, not cooperating with those who caged them.

My people didn’t use mysterious powers to track you; we used deduction. Much more reliable.

Would’ve been nice if we could’ve all had normal, of course, but not enough people wanted to share. So now we all burn.

Syenite wonders if there is any point in hating a crazy man. It’s not like he’ll notice, anyway.

When we say that “the world has ended,” remember—it is usually a lie. The planet is just fine.

You’re abbreviating heavily, not lying. That’s what you tell yourself.

Honor in safety, survival under threat. Necessity is the only law.

The Leadership legends have the air of a myth concocted to justify their place in society.

“Home is people,” she says to Asael, softly. Asael blinks. “Home is what you take with you, not what you leave behind.”

It is surprising how refreshing this feels. Being judged by what you do, and not what you are.

Nassun gasps. “That’s horrible!

I don’t bother to explain that just because something is horrible does not make it any less true.

Winter, Spring, Summer, Fall; Death is the Fifth, and master of all.