But boys will be boys, even the ones who are only girls dressed up: That's one of the rules of the world.

The one thing worse than an enemy is a friend turned false.

Sometimes, on our way through the world, we meet someone who touches our heart in a way others don't.

You aren't a hero and I'm not beautiful and we probably won't live happily ever after " she said. "But we're alive and together and we're going to be all right.

he cut through the 21st Century Gallery, past the big plastic statues of Pluto and Mickey, animal headed gods of lost America

I used to be very fascinated by Victorian stuff, and my best known books, the Mortal Engines series, have a sort of retro, Victorian vibe, despite being set in the far future.

I still feel, as I did when I was six or seven, that books are simply the best way to experience a story.

Moving cities are a fairly hoary old sci-fi trope - I seem to recall they were always cropping up on Doctor Who when I was young, though I may be misremembering.

Godshawk looked surprised, the way that people generally do when you ask them philosophical questions in shrubberies in the middle of the night.

Is it...dead?" asked Tom, his voice all quivery with fright. "A town just ran over him," said Hester. "I shouldn't think he's very well.

But we're alive, and together, and we're going to be all right.

Ignorance is the darkest depths.

A problem cannot be solved at the level of consciousness in which it occurs.

Countering violent extremism and destroying ISIS must be done primarily by Muslim nations with the strong support of their global partners.

In a certain state it is indecent to live longer.

The problem isn’t with rock lyrics, it’s with the fabric of this society itself.

When power corrupts, poetry cleanses

Having been here before and lost to be here and win, I've got to tell you, winning is really a lot better than losing. Really a lot better.

It was a tiny sound but it woke me up because it was a human sound.

I can assure you no whales are going to be killed today.

If you want the truth to stand clear before you, never be for or against.