Authors — Quotes

Rick Riordan Quotes: 153

With great power... comes great need to take a nap. Wake me up later.
The Last Olympian
When I was young, my favorite picture book was 'Fletcher and Zenobia,' written by Edward Gorey and illustrated by Victoria Chess. It's long out of print now, but its mix of macabre humor and 1960s psychedelia made it a perfect children's book for the times.
If my life is going to mean anything, I have to live it myself.
The Lightning Thief
I think kids want the same thing from a book that adults want - a fast-paced story, characters worth caring about, humor, surprises, and mystery. A good book always keeps you asking questions, and makes you keep turning pages so you can find out the answers.
Ever had a flying burrito hit you? Well, it's a deadly projectile, right up there with cannonballs and grenades.
The Titan's Curse
Deadlines just aren't real to me until I'm staring one in the face.
The Lightning Thief
Be careful of love. It'll twist your brain around and leave you thinking up is down and right is wrong.
The Battle of the Labyrinth
Love conquers all,"Aphrodite promised. "Look at Helen and Paris. Did they let anything come between them?" "Didn't they start the Trojan War and get thousands of people killed?" "Pfft. That's not the point. Follow your heart.
The Titan's Curse
Wow,"Thalia muttered. "Apollo is hot." "He's the sun god,"I said."That's not what I meant.
The Titan's Curse
How did you die?" "We er....drowned in a bathtub." "All three of you?" "It was a big bathtub.
The Lightning Thief
Grover was sniffing the wind, looking nervous. He fished out his acorns and threw them into the sand, then played his pipes. They rearranged themselves in a pattern that made no sense to me, but Grover looked concerned. "That's us,"he said. "Those five nuts right there." "Which one is me?"I asked. "The little deformed one,"Zoe suggested. "Oh, shut up.
The Titan's Curse
People are more difficult to work with than machines. And when you break a person, he can't be fixed.
The Battle of the Labyrinth
What if it lines up like it did in the Trojan War ... Athena versus Poseidon?" "I don't know. But I just know that I'll be fighting next to you." "Why?" "Because you're my friend, Seaweed Brain. Any more stupid questions?
The Lightning Thief
I nodded, looking at Rachel with respect. "You hit the Lord of the Titans in the eye with a blue plastic hairbrush.
Dreams like a podcast,Downloading truth in my ears.They tell me cool stuff." "Apollo?"I guess, because I figured nobody else could make a haiku that bad.He put his finger to his lips. "I'm incognito. Call me Fred." "A god named Fred?
Don't feel bad, I'm usually about to die.
The Battle of the Labyrinth
Families are messy. Immortal families are eternally messy. Sometimes the best we can do is to remind each other that we're related for better or for worse...and try to keep the maiming and killing to a minimum.
The Sea of Monsters
It's funny how humans can wrap their mind around things and fit them into their version of reality.
The Lightning Thief
Go on with what your heart tells you, or you will lose all.
The Lightning Thief
Knowing too much of your future is never a good thing.
The Lightning Thief
You deal with mythological stuff for a few years, you learn that paradises are usually places where you get killed.
The Battle of the Labyrinth
Um...is that thing tame?"Frank said.The horse whinnied angrily."I don't think so,"Percy guessed. "He just said, 'I will trample you to death, silly Chinese Canadian baby man'.
The Son of Neptune
Even strength must bow to wisdom sometimes.
The Lightning Thief
God alert!"Blackjack yelled. "It's the wine dude!Mr. D sighed in exasperation. "The next person, or horse, who calls me the 'wine dude' will end up in a bottle of Merlot!
The Titan's Curse
It's hard to enjoy practical jokes when your whole life feels like one.
The Last Olympian
Rachel: You're a half-blood, too?Annabeth: Shhh! Just announce it to the world, how about?Rachel: Okay. Hey, everybody! These two aren't human! They're half Greek god!...They don't seem to care.
The Battle of the Labyrinth
We're staying together,"he promised. "You're not getting away from me. Never again.
The Mark of Athena
It seemed weird calling a teenager 'sir' but I'd learned to be careful with immortals. They tended to get offended easily. Then, they blew stuff up.
The world was collapsing, and the only thing that really mattered to me was that she was alive.
The Last Olympian
Afterward, I had the last laugh. I made an air bubble at the bottom of the lake. Our friends kept waiting for us to come up, but hey-when you are the son of Poseidon, you don't have to hurry. And it was pretty much the best underwater kiss of all time.
You might as well ask an artist to explain his art, or ask a poet to explain his poem. It defeats the purpose. The meaning is only clear thorough the search.
She'd also called me brave...unless she was talking to the catfish.
The Lightning Thief
She glared at me like she was about to punch me, but then she did something that surprised me even more. She kissed me."Be careful seaweed brain."She said putting on her invisible cap and disappearing.I probably would have sat there all day, trying to remember my name, but then the sea demons came.
[My mom's] funny that way, celebrating special occasions with blue food. I think it's her way of saying anything is possible. Percy can pass seventh grade. Waffles can be blue. Little miracles like that.
The Sea of Monsters
Hercules,huh? Percy frowned. "That guy was like the Starbucks of Ancient Greece. Everywhere you turn--there he is.
The Mark of Athena
It's okay,” he said. “We're together.” He didn't say you're okay, or we're alive. After all they'd been through over the last year, he knew that the most important thing was that they were together. She loved him for saying that.
The Mark of Athena
My name is Percy Jackson. I'm twelve years old. Until a few months ago, I was a boarding student at Yancy Academy, a private school for troubled kids in upstate New York.Am I a troubled kid?Yeah. You could say that.
The Lightning Thief
Getting something and having the wits to use it...those are two different things.
The Battle of the Labyrinth
I have lightning and wind powers,"Jason reminded him. "Piper can turn beautiful and charm people into giving her BMWs. You're no more a freak than we are. And, hey, maybe you can fly, too. Like jump off a building and yell 'Flame on!'"Leo snorted. "If I did that, you would see a flaming kid falling to his death, and I would be yelling something a little stronger than 'Flame on!
The Lost Hero
She said this in the same way you might say Fields of Punishment or Hades's gym shorts.
The Titan's Curse
I'm calm,"Rachel insisted. "Every time I'm around you, some monsters attack us. What's to be nervous about?" "Look,"I said. "I'm sorry about the band room. I hope they didn't kick you our or anything." "Nah. They asked me a lot of questions about you. I played dumb." "Was it hard?"Annabeth asked.
The Battle of the Labyrinth
Before I could figure out how to apologize for being such an idiot, she tackled me with a hug, then pulled away just as quickly. "I'm glad you're not a guinea pig." "Me, too."I hoped my face wasn't as red as it felt.
The Sea of Monsters
I said hello to the poodle.
The Lightning Thief
But remember, boy, that a kind act can sometimes be as powerful as a sword.
The Battle of the Labyrinth
Jeez, Hazel,"Percy said, "tell your horse to watch his language."Hazel tried not to laugh. "What did he say?" "With the cussing removed? He said he can get us to the top."Frank looked incredulous. "I thought the horse couldn't fly!"This time Arion whinnied so angrily, even Hazel could guess he was cursing."Dude,"Percy told the horse, "I've gotten suspended for saying less than that...
The Son of Neptune
I turned to Dionysus. "You cured him?" "Madness is my specialty. It was quite simple." "But...you did something nice. Why?"He raised and eyebrow. "I am nice! I simple ooze niceness, Perry Johansson. Haven't you noticed?
The Battle of the Labyrinth
I felt like one of Apollo's sacred cows- slow, dumb, and bright red.
The Last Olympian
This is Annabeth,” Jason said. “Uh, normally she doesn't judo-flip people.
The Mark of Athena
You're a stalker with hooves." "I am not! I followed her to the Big House and hid in a bush and watched the whole thing.
The Titan's Curse
Two hundred Romans, and no one’s got a pen? Never mind!"He slung his M16 onto his back and pulled out a hand grenade. There were many screaming Romans. Then the hand grenade morphed into a ballpoint pen, and Mars began to write. Frank looked at Percy with wide eyes. He mouthed: Can your sword do grenade form?Percy mouthed back, No. Shut up.
The Son of Neptune
Poison!"Grover yelped. "Don't let those things touch you or..." "Or we'll die?"I guessed."Well...after you shrivel slowly to dust, yes." "Let's avoid the swords,"I decided.
Blackjack,"Percy said, "this is Piper and Jason. They're friends."The horse nickered."Uh, maybe later,"Percy answered.Piper had heard that Percy could speak to horses, being the son of the horse lord Poseidon, but she'd never seen it in action."What does Blackjack want?"she asked."Donuts,"Percy said. "Always donuts.
The Mark of Athena
Reyna sent me to get Percy,"Frank said. "Did Octavian accept you?" "Yeah,"Percy said. "He slaughtered my panda.
The Son of Neptune
Delaying death is one of my favorite hobbies
The Mark of Athena
I'm the Super-sized McShizzle, man!"Leo said. "I'm Leo Valdez, bad boy supreme. And the ladies love a bad boy.
The Mark of Athena
I couldn't believe I'd come this far, lost Tyson, suffered through so much, only to fail - stopped by a big stupid monster in a baby-blue tuxedo kilt. Nobody was going to swat down my friends like that! I mean...nobody, not Nobody. Ah, you know what I mean.
The Sea of Monsters
Erre es korakas, Blinky!"Dionysus cursed. "I will have your soul!
The Last Olympian
Mythologically speaking, if there's anything I hate worse than trios of old ladies, it's bulls. Last summer, I fought the Minotaur on top of Half-Blood Hill. This time what I saw up there was even worse: two bulls. And not just regular bulls - bronze ones the size of elephants. And even that wasn't bad enough. Naturally they had to breathe fire, too.
The Sea of Monsters
This is Leo. I'm the... What's my title? Am I like, admiral, or captain, or..." "Repair boy." "Very funny, Piper.
The Son of Neptune
What about a compromise? I’ll kill them first, and if it turns out they were friendly, I’ll apologize.
The Lost Hero
It doesn't matter if they hate you, or embarrass you, or simply don't appreciate your genius for inventing the internet-" "You invented the internet?"It was my idea, Martha said.Rats are delicious, George said."It was my idea!"Hermes said. "I mean the internet, not the rats. But that's not the point.
The Sea of Monsters
But magic is neither good nor evil. It is a tool, like a knife. Is a knife evil? Only if the wielder is evil.
The House of Hades
Frank stared at him. "Unfair? You can breathe underwater and blow up glaciers and summon freaking hurricanes-and it's unfair that I can be an elephant?"Percy considered. "Okay. I guess you got a point. But the next time I say you're totally beast-" "Just shut up,"Frank said. "Please."Percy cracked a smile.
The Son of Neptune
Leo couldn't help smiling. "That could be fun." "Fun"she said unhappily."Blue elephants." "Blue elephants." "Kiss me you fool." "You fool.
The Mark of Athena
Stars,"she whispered. "I can see the stars again, my lady."A tear trickled down Artemis's cheek. "Yes, my brave one. They are beautiful tonight."Stars,"Zoe repeated. Her eyes fixed on the night sky. And she did not move again.
The Titan's Curse
Does truth have a moral?
The Sea of Monsters
Almost everything strange washes up near Miami.
Annabeth pressed her lips to Percy’s ear. “I love you.”She wasn’t sure he could hear her—but if they died, she wanted those to be her last words.
The House of Hades
I’ve met plenty of embarrassing parents, but Kronos, the evil Titan Lord who wanted to destroy Western Civilization? Not the kind of dad you invited toschool for Career Day.
The Sea of Monsters
Okay,"I said. "Just a normal afternoon and two normal people."She nodded. "And so...hypothetically, if these to people likes each other, what would it take to get the stupid guy to kiss the girl, huh?" "Oh..."I felt like one of Apollo's sacred cows-slow, dumb, and bright red. "Um...
The Last Olympian
Remake the world, a little at a time, each in your own corner of the world.
Fair means everyone gets what they need. And the only way to get what you need is to make it happen yourself.
The Red Pyramid
Once the others were below, Hazel and Leo faced each other awkwardly. They were alone except for Coach Hedge, who was back on the quarterdeck singing the Pokémon theme song. The coach had changed the words to: Gotta Kill ’Em All, and Leo really didn’t want to know why.
The Mark of Athena
He'd changed since the last summer. Instead of Bermuda shorts and a T-shirt, he wore a button-down shirt, khaki pants, and leather loafers. His sandy hair, which used to be so unruly, was now clipped short. He look like an evil male model, showing off what the fashionable college-age villain was wearing to Harvard this year.
The Sea of Monsters
Five syllables,"Apollo said, counting them on his fingers. "That would be real bad.
The Last Olympian
But beauty is about finding the right fit, the most natural fit, To be perfect, you have to feel perfect about yourself --- avoid trying to be something you're not. For a goddess, that's especially hard. We can change so easily.-Aphrodite
The Lost Hero
Right,"she said, "We're going to the Land of the Dead and I shouldn't think negative.
The Lightning Thief
Everyone thinks you've been kidnapped,"he said. "We've been scouring the ship. When Coach Hedge finds out- oh, gods, you've been here all night?" "Frank!"Annabeth's ears were as red as strawberries. "We just came down here to talk. We fell asleep. Accidentally. That's it." "Kissed a couple of times,"Percy said.Annabeth glared at him. "Not helping!
The Mark of Athena
Have you ever noticed how parents can go from the most wonderful people in the world to totally embarrassing in three seconds?
The Red Pyramid
Tantalus made a wild grab, but the marshmallow committed suicide, diving into the flames.
The Sea of Monsters
Huh,"Leo said. "Well, if you ever get off this island and want a job, let me know. You're not a total klutz."She smirked. "A job, eh?"Making things in your forge?" "Nah, we could start our own shop,"Leo said, surprising himself. Starting a machine shop had always been one of his dreams, but he'd never told anyone about it. "Leo and Calypso's Garage: Auto Repair and Mechanical Monsters.
The House of Hades
Kronos would be 10 times more powerful. His very presence would incinerate you. And once he achieves this he will empower the other Titans. They are weak, compared to what they soon will become, unless you can stop them, the world will fall, the gods will die, and I will never achieve a perfect score on this stupid machine.
The Last Olympian
Leo frowned at the giant's spire. "Can't we blow it up or something?" "Without me, you do not have the power,"Hera said. "You might as well try to destroy a mountain." "Done that once today,"Jason said.
The Lost Hero
Hmm…” Jason snapped his fingers. “I can call a friend for a ride.”Percy raised his eyebrows. “Oh, yeah? Me too. Let's see whose friend gets here first.
The Mark of Athena
The meeting was like a war council with donuts. Then again, back at Camp Half-Blood they used to have their most serious discussions around the Ping-Pong table in the rec room with crackers and Cheez Whiz, so Percy felt right at home.
The Mark of Athena
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Tyson pounding the Earthborn into the ground like a game of whack-a-mole. Ella was fluttering above him, dodging missiles and calling out advice: "The groin. The Earthborn's groin is sensitive."SMASH!"Good. Yes. Tyson found its groin.
The Son of Neptune
What are you talking about?"Narcissus demanded. "I am amazing. Everyone knows this." "Amazing at pure suck,"Leo said. "If I was as suck as you, I'd drown myself. Oh wait, you already did that.
The Mark of Athena
She held up her calloused, grimy fingers. Leo couldn't help thinking there was nothing hotter than a girl who didn't mind getting her hands dirty. But of course, that was just a general comment. Didn't apply to Calypso. Obviously.
The House of Hades
The sign was spray-painted in Arabic and English, probably from some attempt by the farmer to sell his wares in the market. The English read: Dates-best price. Cold Bebsi. "Bebsi?"I asked."Pepsi,"Walt said. "I read about it on the Internet. There's no 'p' in Arabic. Everyone here calls the soda Bebsi." "So you have to have Bebsi with your bizza?" "Brobably.
The Throne of Fire
Leo: I'm almost out of gas! Woah, that came out wrong. I meant the burning kind!
The Lost Hero
My point is that love is the most powerful motivator in the world. It spurs mortals to greatness. Their noblest, bravest acts are done for love.
The Lost Hero
Wow. When he started looking back on the war with Kronos as the good old days--that was sad.
The House of Hades
Down in the water, Octavian yelled, “Get me out of here! I’ll kill you!”“Tempting,” Percy called down.
The Mark of Athena
Are you guys busy?"Juniper asked. "Well,"I said, "we're in the middle of this game against a bunch of monsters and we're trying not to die." "We're not busy,"Annabeth said.
The Battle of the Labyrinth
Please, Percy...change your clothes. You smell like you've been run over by an electric horse.
The Mark of Athena
You know how hard it is to feel like an extreme falcon-headed combat machine when somebody calls you "chicken man"?
The Red Pyramid
She'd secretly had a crush on him since they were twelve years old. Last summer, she'd fallen for him hard.
The Mark of Athena
She wondered if it was her stupid mother, the goddess of love, messing with her thoughts. If Piper started getting urges to read fashion magazines, she was going to have to find Aphrodite and smack her.
The Lost Hero
A telkhine was hunched over a console, but he was so involved with his work, he didn't notice us. He was about five feet tall, with slick black seal fur and stubby little feet. He had the head of a Doberman, but his clawed hands were almost human. He growled and muttered as he tapped on his keyboard. Maybe he was messaging his friends on uglyface.com.
The Last Olympian
I past another telkhine, who was so startled he dropped his Lil' Demons lunch box. I left him alive - partly because he had a cool lunch box...