“Bone always outlasts feather”

“if you don't first accept the gift as it is—if you change what you hear, or change what you learn—doesn't that make it weak somehow?" "Why should it?" Mr. Williams asked softly. "As I believe I've said to you before, the gift is not what you hear, or learn… the gift is being able to hear and learn. These things are yours from the moment they come and you can shape the tune, or the clay, or the painting, or whatever it is, because it belongs to you. It's what I've always done with my music.”

“Nothing has happened until it happens”

“A hundred years ago they'd have burned you as a witch…" "But I'm not a witch." "I don't suppose any of them were.”

“All things are known, Tallis, but most things are forgotten.”

“I really didn't mean to steal it." Mr. Williams shook his head. He scratched at his chin nervously. "Why not? That's what they're there for. Tunes belong to everybody. So do stories.”

“you were both hunter and hunted; the shadow of your thoughts was the beast which killed you.”