Neil Gaiman, Coraline Quotes

Fairy tales are more than true: not because they tell us that dragons exist, but because they tell us that dragons can be beaten.

The world seemed to shimmer a little at the edges.

I will be brave, thought Coraline. No, I am brave.

Coraline shivered. She preferred her other mother to have a location: if she were nowhere, then she could be anywhere. And, after all, it is always easier to be afraid of something you cannot see.

I don't want whatever I want. Nobody does. Not really. What kind of fun would it be if I just got everything I ever wanted just like that, and it didn't mean anything? What then?

Now you people have names. That's because you don't know who you are. We know who we are, so we don't need names.

Oh ... My twitchy witchy girl I think you are so nice, I give you bowls of porridge And I give you bowls of ice-cream.

We have teeth and we have tailsWe have tails we have eyesWe were here before you fellWe will be here when you rise.

We have eyes and we have nervesesWe have tails we have teethYou'll all get what you deservesesWhen we rise from underneath.

We are small but we are manyWe are many we are smallWe were here before you roseWe will be here when you fall

I'm bored, " she said."Learn how to tap-dance, " he suggested, without turning around.

CORALINE'S STORYTHERE WAS A GIRL HER NAME WAS APPLE. SHE USED TO DANCE A LOT. SHE DANCED AND DANCED UNTIL HER FEET TURND INTO SOSSAJES. THE END.

There are those who have suggested that the tendency of a cat to play with its prey is a merciful one...

The cat wrinkled its nose and managed to look unimpressed. "Calling cats, " it confided, "tends to be a rather overrated activity. Might as well call a whirlwind.

She looked at the girl in the mirror and the girl in the mirror looked back at her. I will be brave, thought Coraline. No, I am brave.

Because, " she said, "when you're scared but you still do it anyway, that's brave.

I'm not much of a challenge here in the dark.

She became certain that there was something in the dark behind her: something very old and very slow. Her heart beat so hard and so loudly she was scared it would burst out of her chest.

I don't want whatever I want. Nobody does. What kind of fun would it be if I just got everything I ever wanted?

No, " said the cat. "Now, you people have names. That's because you don't know who you are. We know who we are, so we don't need names.

Be wise. Be brave. Be tricky.

We...we could be friends.'We COULD be rare specimens of an exotic breed of dancing African elephants, but we're not. At least, I'M not.

Mirrors, ' she said, 'are never to be trusted.

You know I love you, ' said the other mother flatly.'You have a very funny way of showing it, ' said Coraline.