“It is dangerous to lock oneself away and lose track of what is happening outside.”

“Do you know what courage is? Not a willingness to fling oneself into danger without proper thought – that is nothing, nothing. There is cowardice in all impulse. Real courage lies in thinking things through, seeing all the risks, and taking them anyway. Lady Tamarind has courage.”

“Nobody’s mind ever remains a blank page, however carefully they are locked away from the world.”

“Every step she took seemed to show her a new danger. Talking to strangers could kill her. Failing to remember table etiquette could kill her. Ignorance could kill her. And now it seemed that stepping outside the tasters’ chambers for a stroll could kill her.”

“And below them, Toll-by-Night set about folding itself away, like a stilt-legged monster into a closet. Its inhabitants crept back into the unwanted places, the crannies and cellars and forgotten attics, and locked themselves in.A bugle blew. A silver jingling swept through the town, sealing away all bad reputations and bitter-tasting names.Another bugle sounded. And day swept in like a landlord, not knowing that it was only a guest in night's town.”

“Push something in someone’s face, and they will shove it away reflexively. Threaten to snatch it away from them, and sometimes they become convinced that it is what they want.”

“I’m never telling the truth again! It gets you hanged and locked out and starved and froze and hated . . .”