​“One ought not to judge her: all children are Heartless. They have not grown a heart yet, which is why they can climb high trees and say shocking things and leap so very high grown-up hearts flutter in terror. Hearts weigh quite a lot. That is why it takes so long to grow one.” 

-Catherynne M. Valente, The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making

​No one is chosen. Not ever. Not in the real world. You chose to climb out of your window and ride on a leopard. You chose to get a witch’s Spoon back, and to make friends with a wyvern. You chose to trade your shadow for a child’s life. You chose not to let the Marquess hurt your friend--you chose to smash her cages! You chose to face your own Death, not to balk at a great sea to cross and no ship to cross it in. And twice now you have chosen not to go home when you might have, if only you abandoned your friends. You are not the chosen one, September. Fairyland did not choose you--you chose yourself.
-Catherynne M. Valente, The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making

"What others call you, you become. It's a terrible magic that everyone can do--so do it. Call yourself what you wish to become."

-Catherynne M. Valente, The Girl Who Soared Over Fairyland and Cut the Moon in Two

“Hearts set about finding other hearts the moment they are born, and between them, they weave nets so frightfully strong and tight that you end up bound forever in hopeless knots, even to the shadow of a beast you knew and loved long ago.” 
- Catherynne M. Valente

"What others call you, you become. It's a terrible magic that everyone can do—so do it. Call yourself what you wish to become."
 
-Catherynne M. Valente, The Girl Who Soared Over Fairyland and Cut the Moon in Two