Catherynne M. Valente Quotes

Powerful Catherynne M. Valente for Daily Growth

About Catherynne M. Valente

Catherynne M. Valente is an acclaimed American fantasy and science fiction author known for her intricate storytelling, rich mythology, and captivating prose. Born on October 31, 1973, in the San Francisco Bay Area, California, she grew up surrounded by books, developing a love for literature at a young age. Her parents encouraged her imagination, fostering an environment that would later influence her writing career. Valente's education took her from Mills College to UC Santa Cruz, where she earned a B.A. in Comparative Literature in 1996. She furthered her studies at the University of California, Berkeley, receiving an M.F.A. in Creative Writing in 2000. Valente's writing career began in earnest with the publication of her first novel, "The Orphan's Tales: In the Night Library," in 2004. This was followed by a series of works that delved into various mythologies and fairy tales, reimagining them through a contemporary lens. Notable among these are the "Deathless" (2011), which retells the Russian folktale of Koschei the Deathless; "The Girl Who Circled the Earth" (2009); and the critically-acclaimed "Palimpsest" (2009). In 2015, Valente published "Space Opera," a satirical science fiction novel that became a Hugo Award finalist. Her work has been recognized with numerous awards, including the John W. Campbell Award for Best New Writer and multiple nominations for the Nebula and World Fantasy Awards. Catherynne M. Valente continues to push the boundaries of fantasy literature with her imaginative storytelling, blending mythology, history, and culture in unique and thought-provoking ways. Her works invite readers to explore the depths of human experience while immersing themselves in richly detailed worlds that transcend time and space.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"Stories are secret-keeping things; they hide us inside ourselves so we can see out."

This quote by Catherynne M. Valente suggests that stories serve as a means for individuals to explore their own identities and perspectives. By immersing themselves in a narrative, readers can gain insights about themselves and the world around them, as if they are looking out from a hidden vantage point within the story. Essentially, stories allow us to delve into our inner selves while simultaneously experiencing the outside world.


"We are all just children, playing at being men and women, grown-ups, kings and queens."

This quote suggests that human adulthood and roles are not inherent or fundamental aspects of our identity, but rather temporary constructs we adopt, much like a child plays different roles in playtime. It implies that, on some level, everyone is still learning, growing, and discovering themselves, regardless of their age or social position. This perspective encourages empathy and understanding, as it highlights the shared humanity beneath our varied adult personas.


"Fairy tales are more than true: not because they tell us that dragons exist, but because they tell us that dragons can be beaten."

This quote suggests that fairy tales transcend reality not because they affirm the existence of mythical creatures like dragons, but because they convey the idea that challenges and obstacles, no matter how daunting, can be overcome by courage, determination, and resilience. In other words, the real power in fairy tales lies in their ability to inspire us with hope and confidence in our capacity to triumph over adversity.


"Love is the only real magic."

The quote "Love is the only real magic" by Catherynne M. Valente emphasizes that love, rather than mystical or supernatural forces, holds a profound and transformative power in our lives. It suggests that love, in its purest form, can move mountains, heal wounds, and create miracles beyond the scope of ordinary existence. In other words, love is not merely an emotion but a potent force capable of transcending conventional boundaries and bringing about extraordinary change.


"The world begins with a story, and love is the only ending that has any resonance at all."

This quote by Catherynne M. Valente suggests that life, or rather our understanding of it, originates from stories we create and share. The narrative we construct gives meaning to our existence. Love, in this context, represents the profound emotional connections that resonate deeply within us, symbolizing the end or culmination of a story, imbued with significance and emotion. This perspective underscores the idea that the most meaningful aspects of life revolve around love, relationships, and the stories we weave together.


I have always been delighted when told there was a piece of fanfic inspired by a book of mine floating about. I don't read it for legal reasons, but I'm thrilled to know it's there. Someone cared. Someone loved it enough to spend their free time writing about it for free.

- Catherynne M. Valente

Book, Been, Reasons, Floating

You can't have whatever you want. But to a child who must ask permission for every single thing, adulthood looks like a constant parade of every desire's satisfaction. It is a heady and terrifying place. It is the Otherworld. It is Fairyland. In fantasy, we make this literal.

- Catherynne M. Valente

Terrifying, Single Thing, Literal

Just about every science whiz can tell you how he or she took apart the TV or the radio when they were kids just to see how it worked. To see what the world was made of. Well, when I was a kid, I took apart fairy tales to see how they worked. To see what the world was made of.

- Catherynne M. Valente

Kid, Tell, TV, Whiz

Fantasy is my heart and love. And I just want to play in that garden for the rest of my life.

- Catherynne M. Valente

Love, My Life, Play, Garden

No matter what you write, you actually can't help retelling a fairy tale somewhere along the way.

- Catherynne M. Valente

Matter, Somewhere, Way, Fairy

Every morning is a battle between the superego and the id, and I am a mere foot soldier with mud and a snooze button on her shield.

- Catherynne M. Valente

Morning, Shield, Am, Button

Everyone has a right to cry uncle on a genre every once in awhile. I've done it myself. Sometimes you just can't bear another gear or pair of wings or vampire teeth. You go on a fast, and sometimes you come back, and sometimes you don't.

- Catherynne M. Valente

Sometimes, Uncle, Another, Vampire

Every writing teacher I ever had except for one told me I was an awful writer, had no idea what I was doing, and should stop immediately. It only took the one to tell me something different to light a fire under me.

- Catherynne M. Valente

Doing, Tell, Idea, No Idea

It seems like every few years a big name author will holler something about how evil, heinous, and morally wrong fan fiction and fan fiction writers are, and then the Internet gets all upset and shocked, and then the author is shocked that people could get so upset.

- Catherynne M. Valente

Big, Upset, Fiction Writers, Morally

For most of us, fanfiction is a non-issue. Even for midlist writers. We will never be popular enough for people to play in our worlds with any frequency. The problem for us is getting people to read and care about our books that much in the first place.

- Catherynne M. Valente

Play, About, Worlds, Frequency

Monsters almost always are culture's way of working out their fears and are thus inherently incredibly interesting and powerful.

- Catherynne M. Valente

Always, Thus, Almost, Monsters

Vampires should be pretty much like mean girls, all the time, only amazing at it. Flawless. They've had time.

- Catherynne M. Valente

Pretty, Like, Vampires, Flawless

I'm very touchy feely with my fandom, in part because they've never done me wrong or hurt me in any way. This is an awesome balance. I hope it stays that way forever.

- Catherynne M. Valente

Hope, Part, Very, Stays

I try to hurt myself, to sprain something, writing every novel and story, because I'm stretching for something new and difficult that I haven't done before.

- Catherynne M. Valente

Myself, New, Before, Stretching

If you're searching for quotes on a different topic, feel free to browse our Topics page or explore a diverse collection of quotes from various Authors to find inspiration.