Charles de Lint quotes

Charles de Lint is a Canadian writer and musician, renowned for his pioneering work in the fantasy genre, especially urban fantasy. His stories often blend folklore, magic, and modern life, creating vividly imaginative worlds. He has inspired readers by weaving together myth and reality in unique and compelling ways. Here are 74 of his quotes:

Life is like art. You have to work hard to keep it simple and still have meaning.

Charles de Lint

The problem with children is that you have to put up with their parents.

Charles de Lint

If you're not ready to die, then how can you live?

Charles de Lint

I'm not Chinese. I thrive in interesting times.

Charles de Lint

The road leading to a goal does not separate you from the destination; it is essentially a part of it.

Charles de Lint

Without mysteries, life would be very dull indeed. What would be left to strive for if everything were known?

Charles de Lint

There are few joys to compare with the telling of a well-told tale.

Charles de Lint

Why did men worship in churches, locking themselves away in the dark, when the world lay beyond its doors in all its real glory?

Charles de Lint

I think you're all mad. But that's part and parcel of being an artistic genius, isn't it?

Charles de Lint

As far as I'm concerned, the only difference between fact and what most people call fiction is about fifteen pages in the dictionary.

Charles de Lint

A long time ago a bunch of people reached a general consensus as to what's real and what's not and most of us have been going along with it ever since.

Charles de Lint

Remember the quiet wonders. The world has more need of them than it has for warriors.

Charles de Lint

It's not the work or the personality of the founder of a religion that's important, but what its followers do with what they learn.

Charles de Lint

I've always believed the lies we use to make our fictions reveal the truth with far more honesty than any history or herstory or life story.

Charles de Lint

Witchery is merely a word for what we are all capable of - heightened nightsight, an empathy shared with the beasts, a utilization of the more obscure abilities of our minds. Nothing that science can't explain away. Wizardry is spells and enchantments. Fairy tales.

Charles de Lint

The best artists know what to leave out. They know how much of the support should show through as the pigment is applied, what details aren't necessary.

Charles de Lint

What we take from the spirit world is only a reflection of what lies inside ourselves.

Charles de Lint

It may sound trite, but using the weapons of the enemy, no matter how good one's intentions, makes one the enemy.

Charles de Lint

There are people who take the heart out of you, and there are people who put it back.

Charles de Lint

I want to touch the heart of the world and make it smile.

Charles de Lint

That's the thing with magic. You've got to know it's still here, all around us, or it just stays invisible for you.

Charles de Lint

By enlarging your knowledge of things, you will find your knowledge of self is enlarged.

Charles de Lint