Quotes from the novel “The Night Circus” by Erin Morgenstern

ON TELLING TALES

Page 381

It is important, someone needs to tell those tales. When the battles are fought and won and lost, when the pirates find their treasure and the dragons eat their foes for breakfast with a nice cup of Lapsang souchong, someone needs to tell their bits of overlapping narrative. There is magic in that.

It’s in the listener, and for each and every ear it will be different, and it will affect them in ways they can never predict. From the mundane to the profound. You may tell a tale that takes up residence in someone’s soul, becomes their blood and self and purpose. That tale will move them and drive them and who knows what they might do because of it, because of your words.

That is you role, your gift. You yourself can shape the future. Don’t forget that. There are many kinds of magic after all.

ON KEEPING SECRETS

Page 173

Secrets have power, and that power diminishes when they are shared, so they are best kept and kept well. Sharing secrets, real secrets, important ones, with even one other person, will change them.

Writing them down is worse. Writing it down in fancy books that get all dusty with age has lessened it, removed its power bit by bit. It was inevitable, perhaps, but not unavoidable. Everyone makes mistakes.

Quotes from the novel

“The Night Circus”

by Erin Morgenstern