Though Alec Had Never Seen The Occupants Of The First Floor Loft, They Seemed To Be Engaged In A Tempestuous Romance. Once There Had Been A Bunch Of Someone's Belongings Strewn All Over The Landing With A Note Attached To A Jacket Lapel Addressed To "a Lying Liar Who Lies." Right Now There Was A Bouquet Of Flowers Taped To The Door With A Card Tucked Among The Blooms That Read I'm Sorry. That Was The Thing About New York: You Always Knew More About Your Neighbors' Business Than You Wanted To.

-Cassandra Clare

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Though Alec Had Never

Cassandra Clare

Topic

New York

Sorry

Liars

More From Cassandra Clare

We Are Responsible For Protecting Tessa!

Responsible

I Need Some Beef And Broccoli Before I Face Any More Mr. Darcy. It's A Truth Universally Acknowledged That If You Watch Too Much Television On Am Empty Stomach, Your Head Falls Off." "if Your Head Fall Off, " Tessa Said, "the Hairdressing Industry Would Go Into An Economic Meltdown

Fall

Watches

Beef

You Don't Get It, Clary. You Don't Understand What It's Like To Live Always At War, To Grow Up With Battle And Sacrifice. I Guess It's Not Your Fault. It's Just How You Were Brought Up-

Growing Up

War

Sacrifice

I Know What You Said! My Mother Would Never Have Belonged To Something Like That. Some Kind Of-some Kind Of Hate Group." "it Wasn't-," Jace Began, But Hodge Cut Him Off. "i Doubt," He Said Slowly, As If The Words Pained Him, "that She Had Much Choice." Clary Stared. "what Are You Talking About? Why Wouldn't She Have Had A Choice?" "because," Said Hodge, "she Was Valentine's Wife.

Mother

Hate

Valentine

Dear God,” Said Will, Looking From Charlotte To Nate And Back Again. “is There Anything That Makes Women Sillier Than The Sight Of A Wounded Young Man?” Tessa Slitted Her Eyes At Him. “you Might Want To Clean The Rest Of The Blood Of Your Face Before You Continue Arguing In That Vein.” Will Threw His Arms Up In The Air And Stalked Off. Charlotte Looked At Tessa, A Half Smile Curving The Side Of Her Mouth. “i Must Say, I Rather Like The Way You Manage Will.” Tessa Shook Her Head. “no One Manages Will.

Eye

Men

Sight

Well, I'd Certainly Hate To Interrupt Your Pleasant Night Stroll With My Sudden Death." He Blinked. "there Is A Fine Line Between Sarcasm And Outright Hostility, And You Seem To Have Crossed It. What's Up?

Hate

Sarcasm

Night

Magnus Gazed Upon Camille. "some Of My Fondest Memories Include Lashings Of Cream And Beautiful Women.

Beautiful

Memories

Camille

I Saw Jonathan After He Faced The Fear Demon, You Know. It Showed Itself To Him As You. That Told Me All I Needed To Know. The Greatest Fear In Jonathan’s Life Is The Love He Feels For His Sister.

Greatest Fear

Saws

Life Is

This Is Bad," Said Jace. "you Said That Before." "it Seemed Worth Repeating.

Jace

Said

He Would Look So Young. They Were Both So Young. Tessa Knew It Was Unusual To Marry At Seventeen And Eighteen, But They Were Racing A Clock. The Clock Of Jem's Life, Before It Wound Down.

Racing

Looks

Unusual

No. Absolutely Not.” “simon,” She Said. “it’s A Perfectly Fine Plan.” “the Plan Where You Follow Jace And Sebastian Off To Some Unknown Dimensional Pocket And We Use These Rings To Communicate So Those Of Us Over Here In The Regular Dimension Of Earth Can Track You Down? That Plan?” “yes.” “no,” He Said. “no, It Isn’t.” Clary Sat Back. “you Don’t Just Get To Say No.” “this Plan Involves Me! I Get To Say No! No.” “simon—” Simon Patted The Seat Beside Him As If Someone Were Sitting There. “let Me Introduce You To My Good Friend No.

Good Friend

Track

Pockets

Five," She Said. Her Lips And Cheeks Were Flushed, But Her Gaze Was Steady. "five?" Gabriel Echoed Blankly. "my Rating," She Said, And Smiled At Him. "your Skill And Technique May, Perhaps, Require Work, But The Native Talent Is Certainly There. What You Require Is Practice." "and You Are Willing To Be My Tutor?" "i Should Be Very Insulted If You Chose Another," Cecily Said, And Leaned Up To Kiss Him Again.

Kissing

Practice

Skills

How Many Times Have I Told You, Magnus? Behave Professionaly In A Professional Setting. Which Means No Being Rude To Nephilim, And Also No Getting Attached To Nephilim." "i Never Get Attached To Nephilim!" Magnus Protested. Ragnor Coughed, And In The Midst Of The Cough Said Something That Sounded Like "blerondale." "well," Said Magnus. "hardly Ever.

Mean

Rude

Nephilim

Cleverness That Comes Too Late Is Hardly Cleverness At All?

Too Late

Late

Cleverness

I'm All Right,' Jace Protested, But His Hand Gripped Alec's Sleeve Tightly. 'i Can Stand.' It Looks To Me Like You're Using A Wall To Prop You Up. That's Not My Definition Of "standing."' It's Leaning,' Jace Told Him. 'leaning Comes Right Before Standing.

Wall

Hands

Looks

She Had Taken Him For Granted, She Thought With Surprise And Shame, Watching The Flickering Candlelight. She Had Assumed His Kindness Was So Natural And So Innate, She Had Never Asked Herself Whether It Cost Him Any Effort. Any Effort To Stand Between Will And The World, Protecting Each Of Them From The Other. Any Effort To Accept The Loss Of His Family With Equanimity. Any Effort To Remain Cheerful And Calm In The Face Of His Own Dying.

Kindness

Taken

Loss

[will Herondale] Would Say He Knew A Warlock Who Was A Better Friend, And More Worth Trusting, Than Many A Nephilim Warrior.

Warrior

Nephilim

Warlocks

Only The Very Weak-minded Refuse To Be Influenced By Literature And Poetry.

Inspirational

Funny

Book

You Are Aware That The Sale Of Liquore Is Currently Against The Law." Edgar Went On, "but I Suppose That Is Why You Enjoy It." "everyone Should Have A Hobby Or Two," Magnus Said. "mine Just Happen To Include Illegal Trade, Drinking And Carousing. I've Heard Of Worse." "we Tend Not To Have Time For Hobbies." Shadowhunters. Always Better Than You.

Drinking

Should Have

Law

While The Clave Disapproves Of Trespassers, Oddly They Take An Even Darker View Of Beheading And Skinning People. They're Peculiar That Way.

Views

People

Peculiar

The Light That Burned Twice As Bright Burned Half As Long.

Light

Long

Half

Because That Was What You Did With Family When You'd Been Worried About Them, You Grabbed Them And Held On To Them And Told Them How Much They'd Pissed You Off, And It Was Okay, Because No Matter How Angry You Got, They Still Belonged To You.

Matter

Worried

Okay

Mundane Humans Create Distinctions Between Themselves, Distinctions That Seem Ridiculous To Any Shadowhunter. Their Distinctions Are Based On Race, Religion, National Identity, Any Of A Dozen Minor And Irrelevant Markers. ~ Valentine

Valentine

Race

Identity

Will Had Shrugged Once, Helplessly. He Had Almost Wished Jem Would Be Angry With Him. It Would Have Been Easier. He'd Never Felt So Small Within Himself As He Did When He Faced Jem's Expansive Kindness.

Kindness

Would Be

Easier

Kissing Simon Was Pleasant. It Was A Gentle Sort Of Pleasant, Like Lying In A Hammock On A Summer Day With A Book And A Glass Of Lemonade

Summer

Lying

Book

He Found Himself Wanting To Write Poetry About How Her Blue Eyes Were Like Starlight And Her Hair Like Night, Because "night" And "starlight" Rhymed, But He Had A Feeling The Poem Wouldn't Turn Out That Well.

Writing

Eye

Night

Amor Verus Numquam Moritur: True Love Never Dies

Amor

Love Never Dies

Infernal Devices

I Think You Ought To Let Me Take Poor Tessa Into Town To Get Some New Clothes. Otherwise, The First Time She Takes A Deep Breath, That Dress Will Fall Right Off Her." Will Looked Interested. "i Think She Should Try That Out Now And See What Happens.

Fall

Thinking

Clothes

He Carefully Maintained The Blasé Air Of One Who Had Been Here Before And Had Been Incredibly Well Dressed That Time Too

Air

Well Dressed

Wells

There Is That. I Might Have Better Luck Telling Him I’m In Love With Him. Jace Thinks Everyone’s In Love With Him Anyway.” “but I,” Said Clary, “actually Am.

Thinking

Luck

Might

In A Closed Urban Fantasy, The Magical World Is Secret And No One Knows About It. In An Open Urban Fantasy, Everyone Knows About It. So With A Closed Fantasy, You Have To Figure Out How The World Keeps Itself Secret, And With An Open One, You Have To Figure Out How Knowledge Of Magic Has Altered The World We Know.

Magic

Secret

World

It's Very Advanced Of You To Have Accepted My Mortality So Fatalistically.

Accepted

Mortality

Well, I'm Certainly Not Ragnor Fell The Exotic Dancer.

Dancer

Exotic

Magnus Bane

You See, Cuckoos Are Parasites. They Lay Their Eggs In Other Birds' Nests. When The Egg Hatches, The Baby Cuckoo Pushes The Other Baby Birds Out Of The Nest. The Poor Parent Birds Work Themselves To Death Trying To Find Enough Food To Feed The Enormous Cuckoo Child Who Has Murdered Their Babies And Taken Their Places." "enormous?" Said Jace. "did You Just Call Me Fat?" "it Was An Analogy." "i Am Not Fat.

Baby

Children

Taken

Jace Knew He Was Being Cruel, And He Barely Cared. Hurting People He Loved Was Almost As Good As Hurting Himself When He Was In This Kind Of Mood.

Hurt

People

Kind

That Seems Like Stealing, Doesn't It?" Simon Pulled A Cup Toward Him. He Drew The Lid Back. "ooh. Mochaccino." He Looked At Magnus. "did You Pay For These?" "sure," Said Magnus, While Jace And Alec Snickered. "i Make Dollar Bills Magically Appear In Their Cash Register." "really?" "no." Magnus Popped The Lid Off His Own Coffee. "but You Can Pretend I Did If It Makes You Feel Better. So, First Order Of Business Is What?

Coffee

Feel Better

Order

You’re My Sister,” He Said Finally. “my Sister, My Blood, My Family. I Should Want To Protect You”—he Laughed Soundlessly And Without Any Humor—“to Protect You From The Sort Of Boys Who Want To Do With You Exactly What I Want To Do.

Boys

Blood

Want

Lust," She Said. "lust Is A Deadly Sin." "and Spanking." "i Think That Falls Under Lust." "i Think It Should Have Its Own Category." Said Jace

Fall

Thinking

Should Have

My Blood In His Veins." ~jace

Blood

Veins

Marry Me," He Said. "marry Me, Tess. Marry Me And Be Tessa Herondale. Or Be Tessa Gray, Or Be Whatever You Wish To Call Yourself, But Marry Me And Stay With Me And Never Leave Me, For I Cannot Bear Another Day Of My Life To Go By That Does Not Have You In It.

Wish

Doe

Another Day

When The Fey Were Worried, It Was Time To Panic.

Fey

Panic

Worried

Despite The Heat In Her Face, It Felt As If Cold Needles Of Ice Were Running Up And Down Her Veins. "what Are You Doing Here?" He Drew Back Slightly, Looking Disappointed. "that Isn't Really An Answer To My Question, You Know. I Was Expecting More Of A "hallelujah Chorus.' I Mean, It's Not Every Day Your Boyfriend Comes Back From The Dead." "i Already Knew You Weren't Dead." She Spoke Through Numb Lips. "i Saw You In The Library. With--" "colonel Mustard?" "sebastian.

Running

Mean

Ice

Molesting The Vampire While He's Too Weak To Fight Back, Iz? Jace Asked. I'm Pretty Sure That Violates At Least One Of The Accords.

Fighting

Vampire

Weak

I Let Them Think I Did That" Said Jace "my Reign Of Terror Continues

Thinking

Reign

Jace

You Swore To Stay With Me,” He Said. “when We Made Our Oath, As Parabatai. Our Souls Are Knit. We Are One Person, James.” “we Are Two People,” Said Jem. “two People With A Covenant Between Us.” Will Knew He Sounded Like A Child, But He Could Not Help It. “a Covenant That Says You Must Not Go Where I Cannot Come With You.” “until Death,” Jem Replied Gently. “those Are The Words Of The Oath. ‘until Aught But Death Part Thee And Me.’ Someday, Will, I Will Go Where None Can Follow Me, And I Think It Will Be Sooner Rather Than Later.

Children

Thinking

Two

It Is Not Easy To Be Different, And Even Less So To Be Unique.

Unique

Different

Easy

I Was Joking With Isabelle About Vampires Right Before It Happened. Just Trying To Make Her Laugh, You Know? What Freaks Out Jewish Vanpires? Silver Stars Of David? Chopped Liver? Check For Eighteen Dollars?

Stars

Laughing

Trying

There Is No Pretending," Jace Said With Absolute Clarity. "i Love You, And I Will Love You Until I Die, And If There Is Life After That, I'll Love You Then.

Romantic

Love You

Forbidden Love

Black For Hunting Through The Night For Death And Mourning The Color's White Gold For A Bride In Her Wedding Gown And Red To Call The Enchantment Down White Silk When Our Bodies Burn Blue Banners When The Lost Return Flame For The Birth Of A Nephilim And To Wash Away Our Sins. Gray For The Knowledge Best Untold Bone For Those Who Don't Grow Old Saffron Lights The Victory March Green To Mend Our Broken Hearts Silver For The Demon Towers And Bronze To Summon Wicked Powers -shadowhunter Children's Rhyme

Children

Heart

Hunting

His Eyes Softened. "but It Doesn't Change What We Are To Each Other. It's Like There's Always Been A Piece Of My Soul Missing, And It's Inside You, Clary. I Know I Told You Once That Whether God Exists Or Not, We're On Our Own. But When I'm With You, I'm Not.

Eye

Missing

Soul

You'd Think The Angel Would Have Been Foresighted Enough To Give Us A Birth-control Rune, But No Dice.

Angel

Thinking

Giving

Somehow He Managed To Look Cool Despite The Heat. It Made Clary Want To Smack Him.

Looks

Want

Heat

I Hate It When You Answer A Question With A Question." "no You Dont, You Think Its Charming.

Hate

Thinking

Answers

The Most Remarkable Thing About Him Were His Eyes. They Were Laughing Eyes, At Once Both Joyous And Tender: They Were The Radiant Pale Blue Of A Sky Slipping Toward Evening In Heaven, When Angels Who Had Been Sweet All Day Found Themselves Tempted To Sin.

Sweet

Eye

Angel

I Love You. And I Don't Want To Lose You.

Love You

Found You

Want

Moreover, I Wish To Assure You Both That I Did Not Make Any Amorous Advances On Female Monkeys.

Wish

Female

Monkeys

She Jerked Hastily Back To Avoid Stepping On It, And Her Shoulder Bumped His--he Put A Hand Out To Steady Her, Just As She Turned To Apologize And Then She Was Somehow In The Circle Of His Arm And He Was Kissing Her.

Kissing

Hands

Circles

I See That You Are Working This Vampire Angle With Some Success. And Kudos. Lots Of Girls Love That Sensitive-undead Thing. But I'd Drop The Whole Musician Angle If I Were You. Vampire Rock Stars Are Played Out, And Besides, You Can't Possible Be Very Good.

Girl

Stars

Rocks

Staring At Him The Way She Might Stare At A Beloved Place She Was Not Sure She Would Ever See Again, Trying To Commit The Details To Memory, To Paint Them On The Backs Of Her Eyelids That She Might See It When She Shut Her Eyes To Sleep.

Memories

Sleep

Eye

His Beauty Did Not Blaze Like Will's Did In Fierce Colors And Repressed Fire, But It Had Its Own Muted Perfection, The Loveliness Of Snow Falling Against A Silver Gray Sky.

Fall

Fire

Color

Demon Pox. There's Always Demon Pox.

Demon Pox

Pox

Demon

Tessa Touched His Wrist Lightly With Her Hand. "be Brave," She Said. "it's Not A Duck, Is It?

Hands

Ducks

Brave

I'll Walk You Back, Jace Said. "as For Simon, He Can Manage His Own Way Back In The Dark-can't You Simon?" "of Course He Can, Alec Said Indignantly, As If Eager To Make Up For His Earlier Slighting Of Simon. "he's A Vampire-and," He Added, "i Just Realized That You Were Probably Joking. Never Mind Me.

Dark

Mind

Vampire

And What If I'm The One Who Kills Him?" "my Heart Is Your Heart," He Said, "my Hands Are Your Hands.

Heart

Hands

What If

I Can't Tell Them What To Do!" "why Not?" The Other Girl Demanded. "honestly, Clary, If You Don't Start Utilizing A Bit Of Your Natural Feminine Superiority, I Just Don't Know What I'll Do With You.

Girl

Why Not

Natural

By The Time Alec Came Back Into The Training Room, Jace Was Lying On The Floor, Envisioning Lines Of Dancing Girls In An Effort To Ignore The Pain In His Wrists. It Wasn’t Working. ~pg. 317~

Girl

Pain

Lying

Unfortunatley, Lady Of The Haven, My One True Love Remains My Self.

Self

One True Love

Clockwork Princess

You Could Give Me The Past,“ He Said A Little Sadly. “but Alec Is My Future.

Past

Giving

Littles

She Turned Back To Jace. "do You Have To Be So-," She Began, But Stopped When She Saw His Face. It Looked Stripped Down, Oddly Vulnerable. "unpleasant?" He Finishes For Her. "only At Days When My Adoptive Mother Tosses Me Out Of The House With Instructions Never To Darken Her Door Again. Usually I'm Remarkably Good-natured. Try Me On Any Day That Doesn't End In Y.

Mother

Doors

House

Growing Up Happens When You Start Having Things You Look Back On And Wish You Could Change -clary Fray

Change

Growing Up

Wish

There Was No Jace Wayland More Real Than The One He Saw In Her Eyes When She Looked At Him.

Real

Eye

Saws

The Only Time People Turned To Watch Her Go By Was When She Hurtled Past Them As She Fell.

Past

People

Watches

Humans Were So Stupid. They Had Something So Precious, And They Barely Safeguarded It At All. They Threw Away Their Lives For Money, For Packets Of Powder, For A Stranger's Charming Smile.

Stupid

Charming Smile

Stranger

You Should See His Older Brother,” Said Jem. “makes Gabriel Look Sweeter Than Gingerbread. Hates Will Even More Thangabriel, Too, If That’s Possible.

Brother

Hate

Looks

You Might Want To Lie Down," Magnus Advised. "i Find That It Helps When The Crushing Sense Of Horrible Realization Sets In.

Crush

Lying

Realization

Because Viewing My Naked Chest Has Caused Many Women To Seriously Injure Themselves Stampeding To Get To Me.

Naked

Jace

Lost Souls

I Just Don't See Why The Past Has To Matter.

Past

Matter

One Does Not Greet The Queen Of The Seelie Court With The Barbarous Human 'hello'.

Queens

Doe

Hello

Love Makes You A Liar.

Liars

To Love Is To Destroy

Meaningful

Love Is

Henry," Said Charlotte, Who Appeared To Have Recovered From Her Shock, "if You Set Yourself On Fire Deliberately, I Will Institute Divorce Proceedings. Now Sit Down And Eat Your Supper. And Say Hello To Our Guest.

Divorce

Fire

Guests

As Long As I Can Dream, I Will Dream Of You.

Dream

Long

I Can

Creating Characters Is Like Throwing Together Ingredients For A Recipe. I Take Characteristics I Like And Dislike In Real People I Know, Or Know Of, And Use Them To Embellish And Define Characters.

Real

Writing

Character

Has There Ever Been An Inquisitor Who Didn't Die A Horrible Death?" Simon Wondered Out Loud. " It's Like Being The Drummer In Spinal Tap.

Spinal Tap

Drummer

Loud

You Don't Think I Can Fight." Tessa Said, Drawing Back And Matching His Silvery Gaze With Her Own. "because I'm A Girl." "i Don't Think You Can Fight Because You're Wearing A Wedding Dress", Said Jem. "for What It's Worth, I Don't Think Will Could Fight In That Dress Either." "perhaps Not," Said Will, Who Had Ears Like A Bat'a. "but I Would Make A Radiant Bride.

Girl

Fighting

Thinking

Its Three In The Morning,' She Noted With Dismay. 'do You Think Simon’s All Right?' 'i Think He‘s Weird, Actually,' Said Jace. 'though That Has Little To Do With Time.

Morning

Thinking

Three

There's Nothing Wild About Me. I'm A Solid Middle-aged Man." "except That Once A Month You Turn Into A Wolf And Go Tearing Around Slaughtering Things," Clary Said. "it Could Be Worse," Luke Said. "men My Age Have Been Known To Purchase Expensive Sports Cars And Sleep With Supermodels.

Sports

Sleep

Men

And As For The Lightwoods," Simon Said, "it's Not That I Like Them That Much. I Mean, I Like Isabelle, And I Sort Of Like Alec And Jace, Too. But There's This Girl. And Jace Is Her Brother." When Samuel Replied, He Sounded, For The First Time Genuinely Amused. "isn't There Always A Girl.

Girl

Brother

Mean

Just Be Careful. When We Arrive At The House, You Can’t Look To Me For Help Or Instruction. Remember, I Am Your Human Subjugate. You Keep Me About You For Blood—blood Whenever You Want It—and Nothing Else.” “so You’re Not Going To Speak Tonight,” Tessa Said. “at All.” “not Unless You Instruct Me To,” Said Will. “this Evening Sounds As If It Might Be Better Than I Thought.

Blood

House

Sound

Will Looked Up In Apparent Relief When Charlotte And Tessa Came In. "will," Charlotte Said, "you Remember Miss Gray?" "my Recollection Of Her," Said Will, "is Most Vivid Indeed.

Missing

Relief

Vivid

The Two Are Now Bound Inextricably. Should One Die, The Other Will Follow. No Wepon In This World Can Wound Only One Of Them

Two

World

Should

Never Trust A Duck" - Will Herondale "we Are Bound, You And I, Over The Divide Of Death, Down Through Whatever Generations May Come. Forever." - Will Herondale

Ducks

Forever

Generations

Love Isn't A Weakness.

Weakness

The Grandeur Of The Institute Never Failed To Impress Magnus - The Way It Towered High And Mighty Above Everything Else, Timeless And Unmoving In Its Gothic Disapproval Of All That Was Modern And Changeable.

Way

Gothic

Modern

Will Suspected Jem Was In Fact Cleverer Than He Was Himself - But He Lacked Will's Tendency To Assume The Absolute Worst About People And Proceed From There.

People

Facts

Assuming

He Caught Her As If He Were Used To Catching Fainting Girls, As If He Did It Everyday.

Girl

Everyday

Used

When Will Truly Wants Something,” Said Jem, Quietly, “when He Feels Something — He Can Break Your Heart.

Heart

Want Something

Break

Will Nodded Slowly, Then Looked Up At Tha Black Sky. "the Stars", He Said. "i Have Never Seen Them So Bright. The Wind Has Blown Off The Fog, I Think." Magnus Thought Of The Joy On Will's Face As He Had Stood Bleeding In Camille's Living Room, Clutching The Demon Tooth In His Hand. Somehow I Don't Think It's The Stars That Have Changed.

Stars

Thinking

Fog

So You're Trying To Make Her Happy Despite The Fact That The Reason She's Unhappy In The First Place Is You," Said Simon, Not Very Kindly. "that Seems Contradictory, Doesn't It?" "love Is A Contradiction," Said Jace.

Love Is

Unhappy

Trying

How They Loved Each Other, These Three, How They Had Suffered For Each Another, And Yet How Much Joy They Clearly Took From Simply Being In The Same Room.

Joy

Three

Rooms

But You Love Her.” Will Stared At Him. “of Course I Do,” He Said Finally. “i Had Come To Think I Would Never Love Anyone, But I Love Her.

Thinking

Said

Courses

Then Forget Gabriel. Is There A Particular Reason You Keep Biting Vampires?" Will Touched The Dried Blood On His Wrists, And Smiled. "they Don't Expect It.

Blood

Vampire

Gabriel

All Lightwoods Look The Same To Me—

Looks

Clockwork Princess

Gabriel Lightwood

What You're Blaming Yourself For Is Being Who You Are. And That's No One's Fault And Nothing You Can Change.

Faults

Blame

Blaming Yourself

Jem Put The Full Force Of Himself Into Each Smile, So That He Seemed To Be Smiling With His Eyes, His Heart, His Whole Being.

Heart

Eye

Force

Faeries Are Fallen Angels," Said Dorothea, "cast Down Out Of Heaven For Their Pride." "that's The Legend," Jace Said. "it's Also Said That They're The Offspring Of Demons And Angels, Which Always Seemed More Likely To Me. Good And Evil, Mixing Together. Faeries Are As Beautiful As Angels Are Supposed To Be, But They Have A Lot Of Mischief And Cruelty In Them. And You'll Notice Most Of Them Avoid Midday Sunlight—" "for The Devil Has No Power," Said Dorothea Softly, As If She Were Reciting An Old Rhyme, "except In The Dark.

Beautiful

Angel

Pride

Funny Isn’t It?” Said Sebastian. “the Lies Good People Tell. He’ll Probably Make You Eggs Every Day For The Rest Of Your Life Now, And You’ll Choke Them Down Because You Can’t Tell Him You Don’t Like Them.” Clary Thought Of The Seelie Queen. “love Makes Liars Of Us All?

Queens

Liars

Lying

Seeing Through Glamour Is Easy. It's People That Are Hard.

People

Easy

Glamour

Don't." Clary Raised A Warning Hand. "i'm Not Really In The Mood Right Now." "that's Got To Be The First Time A Girl's Ever Said That To Me," Jace Mused.

Girl

Hands

Warning

"what Are You Doing Here Anyway?" "'here' As In Your Bedroom Or 'here' As In The Great Spiritual Question Of Our Purpose Here On This Planet?"

Spiritual

Purpose

Bedroom

Lightwoods,” Magnus Said. “they Always Have To Have The Last Word.

Lasts

Magnus Bane

Said

Life Was An Uncertain Thing, And There Were Some Moments One Wished To Remember, To Imprint Upon One's Mind That The Memory Might Be Taken Out Later, Like A Flower Pressed Between The Pages Of A Book, And Admired And Recollected Anew. - Sophie And Gideon Lightwood

Memories

Flower

Book

When The Soul Has Left The Body, It Belongs To Death. And It Cannot Be Taken Back Without A Price.

Taken

Soul

Body

My Boyfriend Always Says That If It Weren't For Him I'd Probably Get Rid Of My Apartment And Live Nowhere, And He's Right.

My Boyfriend

Apartment

Ifs

The Young Man Who Appeared At The Mouth Of The Alley Was Pale In The Lamplight—paler Even Than He Usually Was, Which Was Quite Pale Indeed.

Men

Mouths

Pale

Must I Go Bound While You Go Free Must I Love A Manwho Doesn't Love Me Must I Be Born With So Little Art As To Love A Man Who'll Break My Heart

Art

Men

Littles

There's Always The Dinner Rolls," Said Will, Pointing To A Covered Basket. "though I Warn You, They're As Hard As Stones. You Could Use Them To Kill Black Beetles, If Any Beetles Bother You In The Middle Of The Night.

Night

Black

Use

He Taught Me There's A Place On A Man's Back Where, If You Sink A Blade In, You Can Pierce His Heart And Sever His Spine, All At Once,' Sebastian Had Said. 'i Guess We Got The Same Birthday Present That Year, Big Brother,' Jace Thought. 'didn't We?

Brother

Heart

Men

The Will I Fell In Love With, She Almost Said."and Be Will," She Finished Instead. "or I Shall Hit You With My Umbrella.

Umbrella

Said

Finished

Words Were Weapons, His Father Had Taught Him That, And He'd Wanted To Hurt Clary More Than He'd Ever Wanted To Hurt Any Girl. In Fact, He Wasn't Sure He Had Ever Wanted To Hurt A Girl Before. Usually He Just Wanted Them, And Then He Wanted Them To Leave Him Alone.

Relationship

Girl

Hurt

Tell Me You Love Me. Tell Me You Love Me And Will Fight With Me.

Fighting

Tell Me You Love Me

I Was Hoping They Would Put Up Flyers Like They Do For Lost Cats." He Said. "missing, One Stunningly Attractive Teenage Boy. Answers To 'jace' Or 'hotstuff'." "you Did Not Just Say That." "you Don't Like 'hotstuff'? You Think 'sweet Cheeks' Might Be Better? "love Crumpet'? Really? That Last One's Stretching It A Bit. Though, Technically My Family Is British-

Sweet

Teenage

Cat

A Very Magnanimous Statement, Gideon,” Said Magnus. “i’m Gabriel.” Magnus Waved A Hand. “all Lightwoods Look The Same To Me.

Hands

Gideon

Looks

The Cycle Hit The Beach And Spun Out. Emma Went Into A Rolling Crouch As She Flew Free Of It, Keeping Her Elbows In, Pushing The Air Hard Out Of Her Lungs. She Turned Her Head As She Hit The Sand, Slapping Her Palms Down To Roll Herself Forward, Absorbing The Impact Of The Fall Through Her Arms And Shoulders, Her Knees Folding Up Into Her Chest. The Stars Wheeled Crazily Overhead As She Spun, Sucking In Her Breath As Her Body Slowed Its Rolling. She Came To A Stop On Her Back, Her Hair And Clothes Full Of Sand And Her Ears Full Of The Sound Of The Wildly Crashing Ocean.

Beach

Stars

Fall

Miss Cecily," She Gasped, And Then Her Eyes Went To Will. She Clapped A Hand Over Her Mouth, Turned, And Bolted Back Into The House. "oh, Dear," Said Tessa. "i Have That Effect On Women," Will Said. " I Probably Should Have Warned You Before You Agreed To Marry Me." "i Can Still Change My Mind," Tessa Said Sweetly. "don't You Dare-," He Began With A Breathless Half Laugh.

Princess

Eye

Hands

It Was At First Almost As If He Hadn't Wanted To Kiss Her. His Mouth Was Hard On Hers, Unyielding; Then He Put Both Arms Around Her And Pulled Her Against Him. His Lips Softened. She Could Feel The Rapid Beat Of His Heart, Taste The Sweetness Of Apples Still On His Mouth. She Wound Her Hands Into His Hair, As She'd Wanted To Do Since The First Time She'd Seen Him. His Hair Curled Around Her Fingers, Silky And Fine. Her Heart Was Hammering, And There Was A Rushing Sound In Her Ears, Like Beating Wings

Heart

Kissing

Hair

Anything?" She Laughed. "like What Kind Of Anything Did You Want?" "well, When I Was Five, I Wanted To Take A Bath In Spaghetti." -clary & Jace, Pg.310-

Want

Baths

Kind

Hearts Are Breakable," Isabelle Said. "and I Think Even When You Heal, You're Never What You Were Before".

Heartbreak

Healing

Thinking

There Are So Many Worse Things Than Death. Not To Be Loved Or Not To Be Able To Love: That Is Worse.

Able

Jem Carstairs

Yes, She Doesn't Really Look Like Either Of Us, Does She? Perhaps She's A Girl Who's Fallen Madly In Love With Me And Persists In Following Me Wherever I Go." "my Talent Is Shape-shifting, Will, Not Acting," Said Tessa, And At That Jem Laughed Out Loud.

Girl

Acting

Doe

Let Me Guess. Luke An Amatis Are At The Accords Hall, Having Another Meeting.” “yeah. I Think They’re Having The Meeting Where They Get Together And Decide What Other Meetings They Need To Have.

Thinking

Together

Needs

Jem Touched The Parabatai Rune On His Shoulder, Through The Thin Material Of His Nightshirt. "i Am Not Alone," He Said. "wherever We Are, We Are As One.

Runes

Said

Shoulders

It Was Strange How Your World Could Shift On Its Axis And Everything You Trusted Could Invert Itself In What Seemed Like No Time At All.

Axes

World

Strange

Sweet Pea?'" Alec Said. "i Was Just Trying It Out." Alec Shook His Head. "no." Magnus Shrugged. "i'll Keep At It.

Sweet

Trying

Peas

Isabelle Was Holding An Umbrella. It Was Clear Plastic, Decorated With Decals Of Colorful Flowers. It Was One Of The Girliest Things Simon Had Ever Seen, And He Didn’t Blame Alec For Ducking Out From Under It And Taking His Chances With The Rain.

Rain

Flower

Chance

Jem, Cecily Thought, With A Pang In Her Heart. Her Brother Had Always Looked To Him As A Kind Of North Star, A Compass That Would Ever Point Him Toward The Right Decision. She Had Never Quite Thought Of Her Brother As Lucky Before, And Certainly Would Not Have Expected To Do So Today, And Yet-and Yet In A Way He Had Been. To Always Have Someone To Turn To Like That, And Not To Worry Constantly That One Was Looking To The Wrong Stars.

Brother

Stars

Heart

Jace Wayland," She Said. "explain Yourself." Jace Was Glaring At The Cat. "i Told You To Bring Me To Alec! Backstabing Judas." Church Rolled Onto His Back, Purring Contentedly.

Cat

Church

Jace

Patience, Grasshopper," Said Maia. "good Things Come To Those Who Wait." "i Always Thought That Was 'good Things Come To Those Who Do The Wave,'" Said Simon. "no Wonder I've Been So Confused All My Life.

Confused

Waiting

Wonder

No. I Wanted To Tell You That I Was Proud Of You." Clary Slewed Around To Look At Her Mother. "you Were?" Jocelyn Nodded. "of Course I Was. The Way You Stood Up In Front Of The Clave Like That. The Way You Showed Them What You Could Do. You Made Them Look At You And See The Person They Loved Most In The World, Didn't You?" "yeah," Clary Said. "how Did You Know?" "because I Heard Them All Calling Out Different Names," Jocelyn Said Softly. "but I Still Saw You.

Mother

Names

Different

How Are You Feeling?" "like Someone Massaged Me With A Cheese Grater." -clary & Simon, Pg.297-

Feelings

Cheese

I Am Glad,” He Said. “they Will Be Able To Take Care Of Each Other When I Am Gone, Or At Least I Can Hope For It. He Says She Does Not Love Him, But—surely She Will Come To Love Him In Time. Will Is Easy To Love, And He Has Given Her His Whole Heart. I Can See It. I Hope She Will Not Break It.

Heart

Doe

Gone

You Asked Me Who I Belong To. I Belong To You.

Sebastian Morgenstern

I Always Thought That Eventually There Would Be A Moment Where I Realized That I Had Practiced Enough And Now I Was Ready To Be A Professional Writer. Then I Befriended A Number Of Successful Professional Writers And Realized That None Of Them Ever Felt Ready. After That I Decided I Might As Well Stop Waiting To Feel Ready And Just Get Started.

Successful

Numbers

Waiting

Against His Own Will, Almost, Will Felt Himself Understanding; He Would Have Done Anything, He Thought, Told Any Lie, Taken Any Risk, To Make Tessa Love Him.

Lying

Taken

Understanding

I Love Your Name. I Love The Sound Of It

Names

Sound

He Grinned. It Was A Wicked Grin, The Kind That Made The Blood In Clary's Veins Run A Little Faster. "you Want To Go On A Date?" Caught Off Guard, She Stammered. "a Wh-what?" "a Date," Jace Repeated. "often 'a Boring Thing You Have To Memorize In History Class,' But In This Case, 'an Offering Of An Evening Of Blisteringly White-hot Romance With Yours Truly." "really?" Clary Was Not Sure What To Make Of This. "blisteringly White-hot?" "it's Me," Said Jace. "watching Me Play Scrabble Is Enough To Make Most Women Swoon. Imagine If I Actually Put In Some Effort.

Running

Offering

Blood

It Is Not The Same Thing To Be Good And To Be Kind.

Be Kind

Kind

Be Good

Clary Felt Suddenly Annoyed. "when The Self-congratulatory Part Of The Evening Is Over, Maybe We Could Get Back To Saving My Best Friend From Being Exsanguinated To Death?" "exsanguinated," Said Jace, Impressed. "that's A Big Word." "and You're A Big-" "tsk Tsk," He Interupted. "no Swearing In Church.

Self

Annoyed

Church

She Looked Up From Closing It To Find Jace Watching Her Through Hooded Eyes. “and One Last Thing,” He Said. He Reached Over And Pulled The Sparking Pins Out Of Her Hair, So That It Fell In Warm Heavy Curls Down Her Neck. The Sensation Of Hair Tickling Her Bare Skin Was Unfamiliar And Oddly Pleasant. “much Better,” He Said, And She Thought This Time That Maybe His Voice Was Uneven Too.

Eye

Hair

Voice

And Now, I’m Going To Sleep. I’ll See You In The Morning, He Said To Simon. “you,” He Said To Jace, “well, I Guess I’ll See You Around. You’re The First Shadowhunter I’ve Ever Met.” “that’s Too Bad,” Said Jace, “since All The Ones You Meet From Now On Will Be A Terrible Letdown.” Kyle Rolled His Eyes And Left, Banging His Bedroom Door Shut Behind Him.

Morning

Eye

Sleep

Investigation?" Isabelle Laughed. "now We're Detectives? Maybe We Should All Have Code Names." "good Idea," Said Jace. "i Shall Be Baron Hotschaft Von Hugenstein.

Humor

Names

Ideas

For Love Is As Strong As Death.

Strong

Love Is

Clockwork Prince

Eventually I Fell Asleep In The Rabies And Lycanthropy Section. Woolsey Bites On Occasion, And I'm Concerned.' - Magnus Bane

Rabies

Magnus Bane

Concerned

You Might At Least Believe That I Know Honor- Honor And Debt.

Believe

Honor

Debt

You Know Men. We Have Delicate Egos.

Self Esteem

Men

Ego

You Said There Was Nothing In The World You Wanted" The Queen's Eyes Glittered. "when You Imagine Your Life Without Him, Do You Still Feel The Same?

Queens

Eye

World

Her Throat Ached: Adoration, Heartbreak, In Equal Measure. “kiss Me,” She Said. “please.

Princess

Kissing

Kiss Me

Then I'll Come,' Said Tessa, 'i've Never Been On A Train.' Will Threw Up His Hands. 'that's It? You're Coming Because You've Never Been On A Train Before?' 'yes.

Hands

Said

Train

Magnus Had Been Alive Hundreds Of Years Himself, And Yet The Simplest Things Could Turn A Day Into A Jewel, And A Succession Of Days Into A Glittering Chain That Went On And On. Here Was The Simplest Thing: A Pretty Girl Liked Him, And The Day Shone.

Girl

Jewels

Years

I Don’t Know What To Do,” Will Said. “mortmain Has Taken Tessa, And I Believe Now I Know Where She Might Be. There Is A Part Of Me That Wants Nothing More Than To Go After Her. But I Cannot Leave Jem. I Swore An Oath. And What If He Wakes In The Night And Finds I Am Not Here?” He Looked As Lost As A Child. “he Will Think I Left Him Willingly, Not Caring That He Was Dying. He Will Not Know. And Yet If He Could Speak, Would He Not Tell Me To Go After Tessa? Is That Not What He Would Want?” Will Dropped His Face Into His Hands. “i Cannot Say, And It Is Tearing Me In Half.

Children

Believe

Taken

Now Before We Do Any Digging Around In That Blond Head Of Yours To Find Out The Truth, I Suggest You Cool Your Temper. And I Know Just Where You Can Do That Best.” Jace Blinked. “are You Sending Me To My Room?

Digging

Rooms

Jace

However, There Is Something You Should Have. Something Every Shadowhunter Should Have." "an Obnoxious, Arrogant Attitude?" Simon Said.

Attitude

Should Have

Arrogant

I Like In Books When We Start The Book And You Really Don't Know How It's Going To Turn Out.

Book

Turns

Know How

He Always Lived In His Head. He Never Cared About How Things Were, Only How They Would Be, Someday, When He Had Everything He Wanted. When We Had Everything We Wanted.

Would Be

Someday

Wanted

Hugo Is A Raven,and, As Such He Knows Many Things. I, Meanwhile, Am Hodge Starkweathe, A Professor Of History, As Such, I Do Not Know Nearly Enough.

Ravens

Enough

Professors

I Take Your Hand, Brother, So That You May Go In Peace.

Brother

Hands

May

A Pair Of Werewolves Occupied Another Booth. They Were Eating Raw Shanks Of Lamb And Arguing About Who Would Win In A Fight: Dumbledore From Harry Potter Books Or Magnus Bane. "dumbledore Would Totally Win," Said The First One. "he Has The Badass Killing Curse." The Second Lycanthrope Made A Trenchant Point. "but Dumbledore Isn't Real." "i Don't Think Magnus Bane Is Real Either," Scoffed The First. "have You Ever Met Him?" "this Is So Weird," Said Clary, Slinking Down In Her Seat. "are You Listening To Them?" "no. It's Rude To Eavesdrop," Said Jace.

Badass

Real

Book

Will You Do Me The Honor Of Being My Wife?

Wife

Honor

My Wife

Dudes," He Said, "do Not Follow Other Dudes To The Bathroom." Isabelle Sighed. "latent Homosexual Panic Will Do You In Every Time

Panic

Bathroom

Said

And Who Are All These People? There Weren't This Many When I Fell Asleep." Alfie Shrugged, Indicating That The Universe Was Mysterious And Nothing Would Ever Be Fully Understood.

People

Mysterious

Alfie

Waiting For A Special Occasion To Kill Me? Christmas Is Coming.

Waiting

Special

Kill Me

I Have A Suggestion," Said Valentine To Luke, In A Surprisingly Even Tone. "let Me Guess," Said Luke. "it's 'don't Kill Me,' Isn't It?

Valentine

Suggestions

Tone

It Made Him Feel Indispensable And Needed - Even If The Fact That Jocelyn Didn't Appear To Care Wheather He Slept In Her Daughter's Bed Or Not Did Underscore That Clary's Mother Apparently Regarded Him As About Sexually Threatening As A Goldfish.

Daughter

Mother

Bed

You're My Brother." "those Words Don't Mean Anything Where We're Concerned. We Aren't Human. Their Rules Don't Apply To Us. Stupid Laws About What Dna Can Be Mixed With What. Hypocritical, Really, Considering. We're Already Experiments.

Brother

Stupid

Mean

But Clary Never Found Out What It Wasn't, Because There Was A Cry Of "jace!" And Alec Appeared, Breathless From Pushing His Way Through The Crowd To Get Them. His Dark Hair Was A Mess And There Was Blood On His Clothes, But His Eyes Were Bright With A Mixture Of Relief And Anger. He Grabbed Jace By The Front Of His Jacket. "what Happened To You?" Jace Looked Affronted. "what Happened To Me?" Alec Looked At Him, Not Lightly. "you Said You Were Going For A Walk! What Kind Of Walk Takes Six Hours?" "a Long One?" Jace Suggested.

Eye

Dark

Hair

You Cannot Save Every Fallen Bird," Said Woolsey. "one Will Do," Said Magnus.

Bird

Said

Fallen

But God Knows, I Don't Want Anyone But You. I Don't Even Want To Want Anyone But You.

Want

Jace

God Knows

Alec Flushed. "i Think It's More Important For You To Go Than Me. You're Valentine's Son, I'm Sure You're The One The Queen Really Wants To See. Besides, You're Charming." Jace Glared At Him. "maybe Not At The Moment," Alec Amended. "but You're Usually Charming. And Faeries Are Very Susceptible To Charm." "plus, If You Stay Here, I've Got The Whole First Season Of Gilligan's Island On Dvd," Magnus Said. "no One Could Turn That Down," Said Jace. He Still Wouldn't Look At Clary.

Queens

Valentine

Son

Wo Wei Ni Xie De,” He Said, As He Raised The Violin To His Left Shoulder, Tucking It Under His Chin. He Had Told Her Many Violinists Used A Shoulder Rest, But He Did Not: There Was A Slight Mark On The Side Of His Throat, Like A Permanent Bruise, Where The Violin Rested. “you — Made Something For Me?” Tessa Asked. “i Wrote Something For You,” He Corrected, With A Smile, And Began To Play.

Play

Bruises

Violin

Alec Looked At Her And Shook His Head. "how Do You Manage Never To Get Mud On Your Clothes?" Isabelle Shrugged Philosophically. "i'm Pure At Heart. It Repels The Dirt.

Heart

Clothes

Dirt

One Does Silly Things When One Is Twelve.

Silly

Twelve

Doe

She Turned To Look At Sebastian, Lying On The Bed. He Was Shirtless, And Even In The Dim Light The Old Whip Weals Across His Back Were Visible. She Had Always Been Fascinated By Shadowhunters But Had Never Thought She Would Find One Whose Personality She Could Stand For More Than Five Minutes, Until Sebastian.

Lying

Light

Personality

As Long As There Was Coffee In The World, How Bad Could Things Be?

Do You Remember What I Told You That First Time At Taki's? About Faerie Food?" "i Remember You Said You Ran Down Madison Avenue Naked With Antlers On Your Head", Said Clary, Blinking Silver Drops Off Her Lashes.

Remember You

Remembers You

Naked

He Seemed To Realize She Was Staring At Him, Because The Cursing Stopped. "you Cut Me," He Said. His Voice Was Pleasant. British. Very Ordinary. He Looked At His Hand With Critcal Interest. "it Might Be Fatal." Tessa Looked At Him With Wide Eyes. "are You The Magister?" He Tilted His Hand To The Side. Blood Ran Down It, Spattering The Floor. "dear Me, Massive Blood Loss. Death Could Be Imminent.

Eye

Cutting

Loss

Simon Stepped Between Them. “i’m Not Going To Let You Fight With Each Other.” “and What Are You Going To Do About It If . . . Oh.” Jace's Gaze Trailed Up To Simon’s Forehead, And He Grinned Reluctantly. “ So Basically You’re Threatening To Turn Me Into Something You Can Sprinkle On Popcorn If I Don’t Do What You Say?

Fighting

Popcorn

Sprinkles

I Could Point Out That That's Not A Dress, That's Underwear, But I Doubt It Would Be In My Best Interest." "need I Remind You," Said Sebastian, "that That Is My Sister?" "most Brother's Would Be Delighted To See Such A Clean-cut Gentleman As Myself Squiring Their Sister's About Town.

Brother

Cutting

Gentleman

A Patient, Methodical Sort Of Madman. The Worst Kind.

Patient

Kind

Worst

Sometimes, When I Have To Do Something I Don't Want To Do, I Pretend I'm A Character From A Book. It's Easier To Know What They Would Do.

Book

Character

Want

I'm Not Going To Be At All Pleased If You've Blinded Me, Henry.

Blinded

Ifs

Will Pushed His Hands Through His Damp Hair. “oh, Yes,” He Said Bitterly. “perhaps In Some Other Life, Beyond This One, When We Have Passed Beyond The River, Or Turned Upon The Wheel, Or Whatever Kind Words You Want To Use To Describe Leaving This World, I Shall Find My Friend Again, My Parabatai. But I Have Lost You Now—now, When I Need You More Than I Ever Did!

Hair

Hands

Rivers

Our Hearts, They Need A Mirror, Tessa. We See Our Better Selves In The Eyes Of Those Who Love Us. And There Is A Beauty That Brevity Alone Provides.” He Dropped His Gaze, Then Raised It To Hers. “i Would Give You Everything Of Myself,” He Said. “i Would Give You More In Two Weeks Than Most Men Would Give You In A Lifetime.

Heart

Eye

Men

Do Stop Flirting With My Husband," Said Tessa. "i Shall Not," Magnus Declared, "but I Will Pause Briefly So That I May Catch Up On Your News.

Husband

Flirting

News

You Really Want To Know What Else It Was My Mom Said About You?" He Asked. She Shook Her Head. He Didn't Seem To Notice. "she Said You'd Break My Heart," He Told Her, And Left.

Mom

Heart

Want

"is Standing By The Window Muttering About Blood Something He Does All The Time?" Asked Simon. "no," Jace Said. "sometimes He Sits On The Couch And Does It."

Blood

Doe

Silhouettes

Jace Shook His Blond Head In Exasperation. "you Had To Make A Crazy Jail Friend, Didn't You? You Couldn't Just Count Ceiling Tiles Or Tame A Pet Mouse Like Normal Prisoners Do?

Crazy

Jail

Pet

He Grinned. “i Was Trying To Remember All The Deadly Sins The Other Day,” He Said. “greed,envy, Gluttony, Irony, Pedantry…” “i’m Pretty Sure Irony Isn’t A Deadly Sin.” “i’m Pretty Sure It Is.” “lust,” She Said. “lust Is A Deadly Sin.” “and Spanking.” “i Think That Falls Under Lust.” “i Think It Should Have Its Own Category,” Said Jace. “greed, Envy, Gluttony, Irony, Pedantry, Lust, And Spanking.

Fall

Thinking

Should Have

Years Later Magnus Would Return To London And Camille Belcourt's Side, And Find It Not All That He Had Dreamed. Years Later Another Desperate Herondale Boy With Blue, Blue Eyes Would Come To His Door, Shaking With The Cold Of The Rain And His Own Wretchedness, And This One Magnus Would Be Able To Help.

Rain

Eye

Boys

He'd Learned His Lesson A Long Time Ago: Even In The Midst Of Heartbreak, You Could Still Find Yourself Laughing.

Long

Laughing

Finding Yourself

Understanding Quotes: Their Essence and Application

Quotes, or quotations, are powerful tools in communication, encapsulating ideas, emotions, and wisdom in concise expressions. They serve various purposes across different contexts, from academic writing to everyday conversation.

1. Defining Quotes

A quote is a repetition of someone else's statement or thoughts. It can be a direct replication of words spoken or written by another individual, often used to support arguments, provide evidence, or convey profound insights.

2. The Importance of Quotes

2.1. Enhancing Credibility

Incorporating quotes from authoritative sources can bolster the credibility of your work. By referencing experts or primary sources, you demonstrate thorough research and a solid foundation for your arguments.

2.2. Providing Evidence

Quotes serve as concrete evidence to support claims. In academic and professional writing, they validate points made, offering readers a basis to trust the information presented.

2.3. Conveying Emotions and Perspectives

Quotes can encapsulate emotions and perspectives succinctly. They allow writers to express complex feelings or viewpoints through the words of others, often more eloquently than paraphrasing.

3. Types of Quotes

3.1. Direct Quotes

Direct quotes involve copying the exact words from a source, enclosed in quotation marks. They are used when the original wording is significant or particularly well-expressed.

3.2. Indirect Quotes (Paraphrasing)

Indirect quotes restate the original message in your own words. While not enclosed in quotation marks, they still require proper attribution to the original source.

3.3. Block Quotes

Block quotes are lengthy direct quotations, formatted as a separate block of text. They are typically used for quotes exceeding a certain length, varying by citation style. For instance, in APA style, quotes longer than 40 words are formatted as block quotes.

4. Proper Usage of Quotes

4.1. Contextual Relevance

Ensure that the quote you choose is relevant to the topic and adds value to your content. Avoid inserting quotes solely for decorative purposes.

4.2. Integration into Your Writing

Seamlessly integrate quotes into your writing. Introduce them appropriately and follow up with analysis or commentary to connect them to your main points.

4.3. Attribution and Citation

Always attribute quotes to their original authors and provide proper citations according to the required style guide (APA, MLA, Chicago, etc.).

5. Common Mistakes to Avoid

5.1. Overusing Quotes

Relying too heavily on quotes can overshadow your voice. Use them sparingly to support your arguments, not replace them.

5.2. Lack of Analysis

Presenting a quote without analysis or explanation can leave readers questioning its relevance. Always follow up with your interpretation or discussion.

5.3. Misquoting or Taking Out of Context

Ensure that quotes are accurate and not taken out of context, as this can mislead readers and undermine your credibility.

6. Quotes in Different Contexts

6.1. Academic Writing

In academic writing, quotes are used to support arguments, provide evidence, and engage with existing literature. Proper citation is crucial to avoid plagiarism.

6.2. Journalism

Journalists use quotes to provide firsthand accounts, add authenticity, and present multiple perspectives within a story.

6.3. Literature and Creative Writing

In literature, quotes can be used to convey character voices, themes, and stylistic elements. They enrich narratives and provide depth to storytelling.

7. Punctuation and Formatting

Understanding the correct punctuation and formatting of quotes is essential:

Quotation Marks: Always enclose direct quotes within quotation marks.

Punctuation Placement: In American English, periods and commas are placed inside quotation marks, while colons and semicolons are placed outside.

Block Quotes: For longer quotes, format them as block quotes without quotation marks, and indent the entire block.

8. Ethical Considerations

Ethical use of quotes involves accurate representation, proper attribution, and respect for intellectual property. Misuse can lead to plagiarism, which carries serious academic and professional consequences.

9. Tools for Managing Quotes

Utilize tools like citation generators and plagiarism checkers to manage quotes effectively. These tools help ensure proper formatting and originality in your writing.

Conclusion

Quotes are invaluable in enriching content, providing evidence, and conveying complex ideas succinctly. When used appropriately, they enhance the quality and credibility of your writing. Always ensure relevance, proper integration, and ethical usage to maximize their impact.

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