Rae Carson Quotes

Powerful Rae Carson for Daily Growth

About Rae Carson

Rae Carson, an acclaimed young adult author, was born on September 15, 1981, in the vibrant city of Atlanta, Georgia, USA. Known for her intricate world-building, rich characters, and captivating narratives, Carson has left an indelible mark on the literary landscape. Carson's love for storytelling was ignited at a young age. She spent countless hours devouring the works of C.S. Lewis, Diana Wynne Jones, and J.K. Rowling, their fantastical worlds fueling her imagination. This passion led her to study literature at Duke University. After graduation, Carson worked as a teacher and a librarian, honing her skills in narrative structure and character development before embarking on her writing career. In 2013, Carson published "The Girl of Fire and Thorns," the first book in her critically-acclaimed Fire and Thorns trilogy. This high fantasy series follows Princess Elisa, a young woman with a mysterious destiny, as she navigates political intrigue, war, and self-discovery. The trilogy was met with widespread acclaim for its strong female protagonist, vivid world-building, and engaging plotlines. Two years later, Carson published "Walk on Earth a Stranger," the first book in the Gold Seer Chronicles series. This historical fantasy follows Lee Westfall, a young woman with a unique ability to find gold, as she navigates the wild frontier during the California Gold Rush. The series was praised for its exploration of themes such as identity, power, and the American Dream. Carson continues to write, captivating readers with her richly-detailed worlds and complex characters. Her works serve as a testament to her love for storytelling and her dedication to crafting unforgettable narratives.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"We all carry our own storms."

This quote by Rae Carson emphasizes the idea that everyone has their personal struggles, burdens, or challenges - figuratively represented as "storms" in life. It suggests that understanding this can foster empathy, patience, and compassion when interacting with others. Everyone's journey is unique, and we must remember to extend kindness to those we encounter, acknowledging their internal struggles and offering support when possible.


"Courage doesn't mean you don't get afraid. Courage means you face it anyway."

This quote emphasizes that courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the ability to confront one's fears despite them. It suggests that fear is a normal human emotion, and experiencing it does not negate bravery or strength. Instead, courage lies in overcoming those feelings and taking action in the face of adversity or uncertainty. This perspective encourages individuals to view their fears as challenges to be faced head-on, rather than obstacles that prevent them from pursuing their goals.


"A map is a powerful thing, but it can only show you so much. The rest is up to you."

This quote emphasizes the importance of guidance (the map) in life's journey, but also underscores the crucial role of personal agency and determination (the uncharted territories). Essentially, it suggests that while we may rely on advice, knowledge, or plans to navigate our lives, ultimate success requires self-driven efforts beyond what is shown on any map.


"Believe in something, even if it's something no one else believes in."

This quote emphasizes the importance of personal conviction and belief, urging individuals to hold onto their values, ideals, or aspirations, even when they are not widely accepted or shared by others. It encourages us to trust ourselves, remain steadfast in our beliefs, and persevere through adversity or skepticism from others. This mindset fosters resilience, creativity, and the pursuit of unique paths that lead to personal growth and potential breakthroughs.


"It wasn't just that she was brave; it was that she kept being brave."

This quote highlights not just a moment of bravery, but an ongoing commitment to courage. The individual in question is repeatedly demonstrating their bravery, suggesting they are resilient, persistent, and have an unwavering spirit. It underscores the importance of continuing to face challenges with bravery rather than relying on it once or fleetingly.


I do confess to being the exasperated, bossy, know-it-all, overachieving big sister.

- Rae Carson

Big, Being, Confess, Bossy

My most profound growth as a writer came when I joined an online critique group. What a harrowing, terrifying, wonderful experience that was.

- Rae Carson

Terrifying, Joined, Critique, Harrowing

When you write about faith, people will be upset with you no matter what. I've heard from readers who were disgusted with the depiction of monotheistic religion. I've also heard from readers who were upset because my portrayal of faith did not adhere to their specific doctrines. Fortunately, I have high risk tolerance.

- Rae Carson

Faith, Upset, About, Portrayal

Some of the most common pitfalls I see occur when authors don't check their privilege. Billions are living in a personal apocalypse right this second, so a little research and empathy can go a long way toward developing a convincing world.

- Rae Carson

Some, Developing, I See, Apocalypse

I dreamed about this as a kid, that I would write - and people would read - a whole series of books. I feel accomplished, giddy, and tired. Mostly, though, I feel thankful. A trilogy is a huge investment on the part of author, publisher, and reader, and I'm grateful that so many people were willing to invest along with me.

- Rae Carson

Thankful, Mostly, Reader, Trilogy

I saw 'Star Wars' for the first time when I was four years old. Sure, I thought Princess Leia was awesome. But the character I identified with most was Luke Skywalker. I left the theater certain the Force was strong with me, that I could train to be a Jedi and wield a lightsaber just like Luke.

- Rae Carson

Strong, Thought, Years, Train

I was a Social Science major in college, with an emphasis in secondary education. I took as many courses on the American colonial era and westward expansion as I could. This turned out to be wonderful preparation for writing fantasy novels.

- Rae Carson

Education, College, Turned, Colonial

I grew up in a cloistered, conservative culture that adhered to strict gender roles. So it's easy to understand why the 'girl dressed as a boy' trope resonated so much. In a world that didn't want to give people like me adventures or significance, books with cross-dressing girls were treasures.

- Rae Carson

Gender, Conservative, Roles, Strict

I must be honest here; I don't think there's such a thing as 'unconventional' when it comes to YA. YA readers are the most open-minded in the literary world. They'll read anything.

- Rae Carson

Think, Here, Read, Unconventional

I've had a love affair with the desert ever since I can remember. No matter what I wrote - contemporary romance, spy thriller, high fantasy - it was going to have a desert in it.

- Rae Carson

Love, Fantasy, Romance, Affair

I decided a long time ago to be unfiltered and wholly myself in these areas of social media. I've been very happy with the results of this decision. I feel that I get lots of interaction and loyal support. So I'm grateful for my Twitter and Facebook followers every day.

- Rae Carson

Been, Very, Wholly, Social Media

The message was always, 'It's good to be pretty, but don't look like you're trying to be pretty!' Inherent in that is a lot of misogyny, I think, because the implication is, 'You must work hard to achieve a feminine ideal for which society has nothing but contempt.'

- Rae Carson

Achieve, Feminine, I Think, Implication

It's important to not marginalize any people group in fiction. A complete, authentic-feeling world should include many different elements of life and culture. For this reason, my books will almost always contain people of faith.

- Rae Carson

Reason, Fiction, Almost, Different Elements

I have tremendous respect for teens who navigate the quagmire that is modern religion. If there is any message in my books, I want it to be that it's okay to ask questions, and it's okay to come up with a belief system all your own. Teens who change their worldviews in the face of tremendous social pressure are heroes to me.

- Rae Carson

Questions, Own, Teens, Tremendous Respect

I miss my family and friends from Cali a lot. I also miss late-night business hours, hiking in the Sierra Nevada, and house boating in Gold Country. But in Ohio, housing is cheaper, everything is green year-round, and we get glorious thunderstorms. In California, I lived in a place that was infested with black widow spiders.

- Rae Carson

Country, Cheaper, Widow, Spiders

Competing in pageants made me hyper-aware of the unfair expectations society places on women in terms of youth and beauty. But it also gave me empathy for women who use beauty as a creative exploration. When expressed healthfully, dressing up, doing hair, crafting makeup, etc., is an art form.

- Rae Carson

Beauty, Makeup, Doing, Expressed

I'm an atheist and a humanist, so I have no desire to evangelize anyone.

- Rae Carson

Desire, Humanist, Anyone, No Desire

I don't plot with huge detail, just big moments and important elements, and then I have a structure but can fly by the seat of my pants when I write.

- Rae Carson

Big, Pants, I Write, Structure

I was a teenage girl once. I was not an overweight teenage girl, but I had really bad acne when I was 11 or 12 years old. It was heart-rending, and people made fun of me. People whispered when I walked by in the hallways, and I was sure they were whispering about me. My adult perspective is maybe they weren't.

- Rae Carson

Bad, Maybe, About, Whispering

I love George R.R. Martin's 'Game of Thrones' series.

- Rae Carson

Love, Game, I Love, Game Of Thrones

'Lord of the Rings' was a childhood favorite, though the adult Rae wishes the women in those books had more significance and agency.

- Rae Carson

Childhood, Though, Agency, Significance

I'd love to see more middle and high school teachers who are not teaching English develop classroom libraries. Our message to kids should be that reading is for everyone.

- Rae Carson

Love, Middle, Everyone, Classroom

I worked at a job where 90 percent of my coworkers were Spanish-speaking, and some of them were only Spanish-speaking. My rule was if someone came into the office needing something - I worked in HR at the time - they had to bring a Spanish word to teach me. That was the deal.

- Rae Carson

Some, Deal, Coworkers, Needing

The common thread in all my projects is 'girls being awesome.' Can we make that a genre?

- Rae Carson

Awesome, Common, Projects, Genre

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