“
So you choose him?'
'Cal betrayed me, and I betrayed him. And you betrayed us both, in a thousand different ways.' The words are heavy as stone but right. So right. 'I choose no one.
”
”
Victoria Aveyard (Red Queen (Red Queen, #1))
“
Fire wants to burn
Water wants to flow
Air wants to rise
Earth wants to bind
Chaos wants to devour
Cal wants to live
”
”
Cassandra Clare (The Iron Trial (Magisterium, #1))
“
I think I love you, Cal." -Abra
I'm not good." -Cal
Because you're not good." -Abra
”
”
John Steinbeck (East of Eden)
“
Cal had been waiting for us at the pond. When he’d seen me, he’d given me a barely perceptible nod, which was the Cal version of waving his hands over his head and yelling, “Hey, Sophie!
”
”
Rachel Hawkins (Demonglass (Hex Hall, #2))
“
Must be weird for you, having your mom here."
"Weird for me, weird for her, probably weird for you since you had to give up your swinging bachelor pad."
"Mrs. Casnoff let me install my heart-shaped Jacuzzi in my new dorm room."
"Cal," I said with mock astonishment, "did you just make a joke?"
"Maybe.
”
”
Rachel Hawkins (Demonglass (Hex Hall, #2))
“
His lips are on mine, hard and warm and pressing. The touch is electrifying, but not like I'm used to. This isn't a spark of destruction, but a spark of life. As much as I want to pull away, I just can't do it. Cal is a cliff and I throw myself over the edge, not bothering to think of what it could do to us both. One day he'll realize I'm his enemy, and all this will be a far-gone memory. But not yet.
”
”
Victoria Aveyard (Red Queen (Red Queen, #1))
“
Cal stepped forward, hopefully to come to my rescue.
"I could toss her off the pier, Ms. Vanderlyden."
Or not.
”
”
Rachel Hawkins (Demonglass (Hex Hall, #2))
“
I'm Min's fairy godmother, Charm Boy,' Liza said, frowning down at him. 'And if you don't give her a happily ever after, I'm going to come back and beat you to death with a snow globe.'
What happened to "bibbity bobbity boo"?' Cal asked Min.
That was Disney, honey,' Min said. 'It wasn't a documentary.
”
”
Jennifer Crusie (Bet Me)
“
It's all right, Tessa, you can go. We love you. You can go now.'
'Why are you saying that?'
'She might need permission to die, Cal.'
'I don't want her to. She doesn't have my permission.
”
”
Jenny Downham (Before I Die)
“
He ran his thumb over my lower lip, sending a flurry of sparks through me. "Good-bye, Sophie." -Cal
”
”
Rachel Hawkins (Demonglass (Hex Hall, #2))
“
...And of course, your dad was always talking about you, so between him and Jenna, I feel like I already know you.”
Man, first Cal, then Lara and the other Council members, now Vix. Did Dad have a blog about me or something? “My Daughter Sophie and Why You Should All Follow Her and/or Marry Her.
”
”
Rachel Hawkins (Demonglass (Hex Hall, #2))
“
So, destroy?" Cal asked. Clearly, the conversation was giving his two brain cells a serious workout.
”
”
Rick Riordan (The Lost Hero (The Heroes of Olympus, #1))
“
Passion comes after you put in the hard work to become excellent at something valuable, not before. In other words, what you do for a living is much less important than how you do it.
”
”
Cal Newport (So Good They Can't Ignore You: Why Skills Trump Passion in the Quest for Work You Love)
“
Destroy them later?" Cal offered, which was probably as close to friendly as he ever got.
”
”
Rick Riordan (The Lost Hero (The Heroes of Olympus, #1))
“
Cal will never turn his back on his crown, on your father."
"I know my brother. If it comes down to it, to saving your life or saving his crown, we both know what he will choose."
"He would never choose me.
”
”
Victoria Aveyard (Red Queen (Red Queen, #1))
“
As I stomped across the school grounds, all I could see was Cal sitting with my dad in some manly room with leather chairs and dead animals on the wall, chomping on cigars as my dad formally signed me away to him. They probably even high-fived.
”
”
Rachel Hawkins (Demonglass (Hex Hall, #2))
“
If you don’t produce, you won’t thrive—no matter how skilled or talented you are.
”
”
Cal Newport (Deep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World)
“
I sat up and pushed my wet hair out of eyes. Cal was standing a few feet away. I glared at him. "Awesome job with the saving.
”
”
Rachel Hawkins (Demonglass (Hex Hall, #2))
“
Cal is built from his father’s dreams, and Maven from his mother’s nightmares.
”
”
Victoria Aveyard (War Storm (Red Queen #4))
“
Clarity about what matters provides clarity about what does not.
”
”
Cal Newport (Deep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World)
“
Cal, Archer, Jenna and I managed to achieve something truly impressive: the *four-way* glance.
”
”
Rachel Hawkins (Spell Bound (Hex Hall, #3))
“
Who you are, what you think, feel, and do, what you love—is the sum of what you focus on.
”
”
Cal Newport (Deep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World)
“
Maybe you should say goodbye, Cal.'
'No.'
'It might be important.'
'It might make her die.
”
”
Jenny Downham (Before I Die)
“
Cal," he said by way of explanation. "I owe that guy, like, a mountain of burgers. It's getting embarrassing.
”
”
Rachel Hawkins (Spell Bound (Hex Hall, #3))
“
The long flight from Georgia to England had been pretty uneventful. Exceept that Cal had sat next to me.
Which was fine. Really.
It wasn't like I'd been hyperaware of his presence and jumped the three times his knee bumped mine. And adter that third time, he definitely hadn't shot me a kind of disgusted look and said, "Chill out, will you?"
And when Jenna gave us both a quizzical look, we hadn't snapped, in unison, "Nothing!" Because all of that would have been weird, and Cal and I weren't weird. We were cool.
”
”
Rachel Hawkins (Demonglass (Hex Hall, #2))
“
If you want to love what you do, abandon the passion mindset (“what can the world offer me?”) and instead adopt the craftsman mindset (“what can I offer the world?”).
”
”
Cal Newport (So Good They Can't Ignore You: Why Skills Trump Passion in the Quest for Work You Love)
“
Since it seems your marking your territory , why don't you go ahead and pee on her while you're at it ? " ~ Cal
”
”
Nicole Reed (Ruining Me (Ruining, #1))
“
You talk about Cal, you look like a woman who's talkin' about the man she needs to breathe.
”
”
Kristen Ashley (At Peace (The 'Burg, #2))
“
Great. We can pick out our colors."
"What?"
"For the wedding. I'm thinking melon and mint. Supposed to be really hot next spring."
Cal laughed out loud, the first time I'd ever heard him do that. "It's a plan. See ya, Sophie.
”
”
Rachel Hawkins (Demonglass (Hex Hall, #2))
“
When life gives you lemons. . . You might as well shove 'em where the sun don't shine, because you sure as hell aren't ever going to see any lemonade.
”
”
Rob Thurman (Nightlife (Cal Leandros, #1))
“
Statistics show that men are interested in three things: careers, sports, and sex. That's why they love professional cheerleaders."
Cal put down his fork "Well, that's sexist."
"Yes i know," she said. "But it's true isn't it?"
"What?" Cal tried to find his place in the conversation. "Oh, the sports and sex thing? Not at all. This is the twenty-first century. We've learned how to be sensitive."
"You have?"
"Sure," Cal said. "Otherwise we wouldn't get laid.
”
”
Jennifer Crusie (Bet Me)
“
what we choose to focus on and what we choose to ignore—plays in defining the quality of our life.
”
”
Cal Newport (Deep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World)
“
Leopards break into the temple and drink all the sacrificial vessels dry; it keeps happening; in the end, it can be calculated in advance and is incorporated into the ritual.
”
”
Franz Kafka (The Zürau Aphorisms)
“
What i'm trying to tell you," Min said, "is that im going to grow up to be one of those chubby old ladies. It's in my genes. Like self raising flour. i'm going to pouf."
"thats going to work out well for me," Cal said. "because i'm going to grow up to be one of those horny old men who chases chubby old ladies around the couch.
”
”
Jennifer Crusie (Bet Me)
“
The door swings inward as the first soldier rounds the corner, but my thoughts are only of Cal. It seems princes make me blind.
”
”
Victoria Aveyard (Glass Sword (Red Queen, #2))
“
It frightens me about being alone with Cal, at least in daylight. But when night falls, there’s no one I’d rather see.
”
”
Victoria Aveyard (Glass Sword (Red Queen, #2))
“
In the palace, during my imprisonment, I learned that Maven had been made by his mother, formed into the monster he became. There is nothing on earth that can change him or what she did. But Cal was made too. All of us were made by someone else, and all of us have some thread of steel that nothing and no one can cut.
”
”
Victoria Aveyard (King's Cage (Red Queen, #3))
“
Two Core Abilities for Thriving in the New Economy 1. The ability to quickly master hard things. 2. The ability to produce at an elite level, in terms of both quality and speed.
”
”
Cal Newport (Deep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World)
“
Oh, come on, Sophie. Don't you get it? He's L'Occhio di Dio's ultimate weapon. They used him as a spy at Hecate for years, so what makes you think that's stopped now? This is probably just his new assignment, getting close to you so he can use you for information about the Council."
"Actually, I was just going to use her for her body, but that's a good idea, too.
”
”
Rachel Hawkins (Demonglass (Hex Hall, #2))
“
But where I itty now, O my brothers, is all on my oddy knocky, where you cannot go. Tomorrow is all like sweet flowers and the turning vonny earth and the stars and the old Luna up there. ... And all that cal.
”
”
Anthony Burgess (A Clockwork Orange)
“
I left out the part about Cal I being betrothed. Jenna was already practically wearing a Team Cal T-shirt. I didn't want to give her any more ammunition.
”
”
Rachel Hawkins (Demonglass (Hex Hall, #2))
“
The tycoons of social media have to stop pretending that they’re friendly nerd gods building a better world and admit they’re just tobacco farmers in T-shirts selling an addictive product to children. Because, let’s face it, checking your “likes” is the new smoking.
”
”
Cal Newport (Digital Minimalism: Choosing a Focused Life in a Noisy World)
“
Then, like I wasn't thrown enough, Cal leaned down and picked up a potted African violet on the low table next to the sofa and brought it over to me. For a second, I wondered if this was his socially awkward way of trying to give me flowers.
”
”
Rachel Hawkins (Demonglass (Hex Hall, #2))
“
Simply put, humans are not wired to be constantly wired.
”
”
Cal Newport (Digital Minimalism: Choosing a Focused Life in a Noisy World)
“
As the author Tim Ferriss once wrote: “Develop the habit of letting small bad things happen. If you don’t, you’ll never find time for the life-changing big things.
”
”
Cal Newport (Deep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World)
“
Leo cried, "Hold on! Let's have some manners here. Can I at least find out who has the honor of destroying me?"
"I am Cal!" the ox grunted. He looked very proud of himself, like he'd taken a long time to memorize that sentence.
"That's short for Calais," the love god said. "Sadly, my brother cannot say words with more than two syllables--"
"Pizza! Hockey! Destroy!" Cal offered.
"--which includes his own name," the love god finished.
"I am Cal," Cal repeated. "And this is Zethes! My brother!"
"Wow," Leo said. "That was almost three sentences, man! Way to go."
Cal grunted, obviously pleased with himself.
"Stupid buffoon," his brother grumbled. "They make fun of you. But no matter. I am Zethes, which is short for Zethes. And the lady there--" He winked at piper, but the wink was more like a facial seizure. "She can call me anything she likes. Perhaps she would like to have dinner with a famous demigod before we must destroy you?
”
”
Rick Riordan (The Lost Hero (The Heroes of Olympus, #1))
“
They stared each other down, and while the dorky eleven-year-old in my soul kind of hoped that two hot boys might fight over me, the rational, seventeen-year-old knew that Archer need to get out of here, fast.
”
”
Rachel Hawkins (Demonglass (Hex Hall, #2))
“
Cal says that humans are made from the nuclear ash of dead stars. He says that when I die, I'll return to dust, glitter,rain. If thats true, I want to be buried right here under this tree. Its roots will reach into the soft mess of my body and suck me dry. I'll be re-formed as apple blossom. I'll drift down in the spring like confetti and cling to my family's shoes. They'll carry me in their pockets to help them sleep. What dreams will they have then?
”
”
Jenny Downham (Before I Die)
“
Digital Minimalism A philosophy of technology use in which you focus your online time on a small number of carefully selected and optimized activities that strongly support things you value, and then happily miss out on everything else.
”
”
Cal Newport (Digital Minimalism: Choosing a Focused Life in a Noisy World)
“
I was never yours, and you were never mine, Maven. And not because of him, either. I thought you were perfect, I thought you were strong and brave and good. I thought you were better than him."
Better than Cal. Those are words Maven thought no one would ever say. He flinches, and for a second, I can see the boy I used to know. A boy that doesn't exist anymore.
”
”
Victoria Aveyard (Red Queen (Red Queen, #1))
“
I glanced around at everyone. “It’s going to be bad. Worse than bad, probably.”
“We’ll manage it,” Cal said.
“Yeah,” Jenna said, smiling shakily. “We’re kind of badass in our own right.”
I gripped her hand. “Damn straight.
”
”
Rachel Hawkins (Spell Bound (Hex Hall, #3))
“
It’s not something you can control, Mare,” he replies, still standing so far away. “We can’t choose who we love. I wish, more than anything, that we could.” I feel cracked open. My skin still runs hot from Cal’s embrace, remembering the feel of him only moments ago. But in the deepest part of me, in spite of every fiber of my being, I think beyond the clearing, to ice-colored eyes, an empty promise, and a kiss aboard a boat.
”
”
Victoria Aveyard (Glass Sword (Red Queen, #2))
“
Cal and Maven are deadly creatures, soldiers. But their battle isn't just on the lines. It's here, in a palace, on the broadcasts, in the heart of every person they rule. They will rule, not just by right of a crown, but by might. Strength and power. It's all the Silvers respect, and it's all it takes to keep the rest of us slaves.
”
”
Victoria Aveyard (Red Queen (Red Queen, #1))
“
We all have our security blankets in this world. Some are just sharper than others.
”
”
Rob Thurman (Nightlife (Cal Leandros, #1))
“
Another round," she goads, and holds out a hand for the cards. "I bet a week of laundry."
Across from us, Cal stops his preparatory stretching to snort. "You think Mare does laundry?"
"Do you, Your Highness?" I snap back, grinning. He just pretends not to hear me.
”
”
Victoria Aveyard (King's Cage (Red Queen, #3))
“
Solitude Deprivation A state in which you spend close to zero time alone with your own thoughts and free from input from other minds.
”
”
Cal Newport (Digital Minimalism: Choosing a Focused Life in a Noisy World)
“
To simply wait and be bored has become a novel experience in modern life, but from the perspective of concentration training, it’s incredibly valuable.
”
”
Cal Newport (Deep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World)
“
If you can’t learn, you can’t thrive.
”
”
Cal Newport (Deep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World)
“
Cal stares at the floor, silent for a long, stoic moment. "I never thought Maven would do that to her," he mutters finally. "She probably didn't either."
Then you're both stupid, my brain screams. How many times doe one wicked boy have to betray you people before you learn?
”
”
Victoria Aveyard (King's Cage (Red Queen, #3))
“
Okay, fine. But just so you know, following me into hell means you're all definitely the sidekicks.
”
”
Rachel Hawkins (Spell Bound (Hex Hall, #3))
“
Ironically, jobs are actually easier to enjoy than free time, because like flow activities they have built-in goals, feedback rules, and challenges, all of which encourage one to become involved in one’s work, to concentrate and lose oneself in it. Free time, on the other hand, is unstructured, and requires much greater effort to be shaped into something that can be enjoyed.
”
”
Cal Newport (Deep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World)
“
My son the general!" King Tiberias booms, his proud voice cutting through the din of the party. For a second, when he pulls Cal close, putting an arm around his son, I forget he's a king. I almost understand Cal's need to please him. What would I give to see my mother look at me like that, back when I was nothing but a thief? What would I give now? This world is Silver, but it is also gray. There is no black-and-white.
”
”
Victoria Aveyard (Red Queen (Red Queen, #1))
“
You have this weird look on your face," he said. "Like you're doing really complicated math in your head.
”
”
Rachel Hawkins (Spell Bound (Hex Hall, #3))
“
Cal's face swam into view. I couldn't hear him over the ringing in my ears. I'm pretty sure he mouthed for me to lie still, which seemed easy enough.
He held my hand, and while the pain didn't go away, a woozy sense of calm spread over me. So I was pretty dispassionate as I rolled my head to the side and watched Cal pull a six-inch shared of demonglass out of my shoulder. As soon as it was out, the burning faded, but I knew I'd have yet another another scar. "That present sucked," I muttered.
”
”
Rachel Hawkins (Demonglass (Hex Hall, #2))
“
I'll be right behind you"
behind her? Thirty-two steps with him looking at her butt?
"No, you wont."
"Look, it's late, i'm tired, can we just-"
"it'll be a cold day in hell when you follow me up those steps. You want to go up, you go first."
"Why?" he said mystified
"you're not looking at my rear end all the way up that hill."
Cal sighed and took the first step. "wait a minute. Now you'll be looking at my butt all the way up the steps."
"yes but you probably have a great butt," Min said. "it's an entirely different dynamic.
”
”
Jennifer Crusie (Bet Me)
“
I sat up so fast I practically broke the sound barrier, but it was Cal standing in my doorway, not Archer. I heaved a huge sigh, one of relief, and not even a little bit of disappointment.
Of course, once I'd wrapped my mind around the fact that it was Cal and not Archer standing in my bedroom, it dawned on me that Cal was standing in my bedroom.
”
”
Rachel Hawkins (Demonglass (Hex Hall, #2))
“
We are nothing more than distractions for each other, and distractions get you killed. But my hands close over his, our fingers lacing, until our bones are woven together. The fire is dying, flames reduced to embers. But Cal is still here. He will never leave me.
”
”
Victoria Aveyard (Glass Sword (Red Queen, #2))
“
To my dismay, he recovers quickly and smoothes his hair. "So you choose him?"
That's all this ever was. Jealously. Rivalry. All so shadow could defeat the flame.
I have to throw my head back and laugh, feeling the eyes of the brothers on me. "Cal betrayed me, and I betrayed him. And you betrayed both of us, in a thousand different ways." The words are heavy as stone but right. So right. "I choose no one.
”
”
Victoria Aveyard (Red Queen (Red Queen, #1))
“
Here's the thing, Grace," Cal said, a smile playing at the corner of his mouth. "Ever since that first day when you smacked me in the head with your field hockey stick-"
"You just can't let that go, can you?" I muttered.
He grinned fully now. "-and even when you hit me with the rake and dented my truck, and when you were spying on me from your attic and your dog was mauling me, Grace, I always knew you were the one for me.
”
”
Kristan Higgins (Too Good to Be True)
“
I'm not sure how I feel about you 'handling my life energy,' Cal."
He grinned, and I was taken aback by how different it made him look. Cal spent so much time being stoic and solemn that it was easy to forget he even had teeth. "I'll buy you dinner first next time, I promise."
Okay, the grin was one thing, but that had definitely been flirting.
”
”
Rachel Hawkins (Demonglass (Hex Hall, #2))
“
Less mental clutter means more mental resources available for deep thinking.
”
”
Cal Newport (Deep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World)
“
Do some good in the world for no other reason than wanting to be part of the solution.
”
”
Cal Newport (How to Win at College: Surprising Secrets for Success from the Country's Top Students)
“
Fuck,” he muttered.
…
“Language in front of the girls,” I snapped.
“Baby, they hear it all the time,” he returned and I felt my eyes get wide in motherly affront.
Cal looked at my face then over the seat to the girls and asked, “You gonna say fuck because I say fuck?”
“No,” Kate answered immediately.
“No, ‘cause Mom doesn’t like it,” Keira replied waspishly.
Cal looked back at me and raised his brows.
”
”
Kristen Ashley (At Peace (The 'Burg, #2))
“
No one owes you a great career, it argues; you need to earn it—and the process won’t be easy.
”
”
Cal Newport (So Good They Can't Ignore You: Why Skills Trump Passion in the Quest for Work You Love)
“
I walked away from his offer. From him. I was torn apart by another betrayal—Cal’s betrayal, but also mine. I love you is a promise we both made, and we both broke. It should mean I choose you above all else. I want you more. I need you always. I cannot live without you. I will do anything to keep our lives from parting.
But he wouldn’t. And I won’t.
”
”
Victoria Aveyard (War Storm (Red Queen, #4))
“
Strange that she is both the anchor against the storm and the storm itself.
”
”
Victoria Aveyard (War Storm (Red Queen, #4))
“
The urge to check Twitter or refresh Reddit becomes a nervous twitch that shatters uninterrupted time into shards too small to support the presence necessary for an intentional life.
”
”
Cal Newport (Digital Minimalism: Choosing a Focused Life in a Noisy World)
“
Efforts to deepen your focus will struggle if you don’t simultaneously wean your mind from a dependence on distraction.
”
”
Cal Newport (Deep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World)
“
Emilio appeared with wine before Cal could say anything, and Min beamed at him, grateful for the rescue. "Emilio, my darling. I forgot to mention cake boxes. Two hundred cake boxes."
"Already on it," Emilio said. "Nonna said you'd need them. She said to get four-inch-square boxes for three-inch-square cakes."
"I'm getting the boxes," Min said, nodding. "Sure. Great. Fine. Your grandmother is an angel and you are my hero. And of course, a genius with food."
"And you are my favorite customer." Emilio kissed her cheek and disappeared back into the kitchen.
"I love him," she told Cal.
"I noticed," Cal said. "Been seeing him behind my back, have you?"
"Yes," Min said. "We've been having conversations about cake."
"Whoa," Cal said. "For you, that's talking dirty.
”
”
Jennifer Crusie (Bet Me)
“
It’s in our nature, Julian would say. We destroy. It’s the constant of our kind. No matter the color of blood, man will always fall.
I didn’t understand that lesson a few days ago, but now, with Cal’s hands in mine, guiding me with the lightest touch, I’m beginning to see what he meant.
I can feel myself falling.
”
”
Victoria Aveyard (Red Queen (Red Queen, #1))
“
the happiest, most passionate employees are not those who followed their passion into a position, but instead those who have been around long enough to become good at what they do. On reflection, this makes sense.
”
”
Cal Newport (So Good They Can't Ignore You: Why Skills Trump Passion in the Quest for Work You Love)
“
Memories - you can't escape them, but you can't let them rule you either.
”
”
Rob Thurman (Deathwish (Cal Leandros, #4))
“
Why is it always the world? Why is it never just half a block? Or Jersey? You know, something we could live without?
”
”
Rob Thurman (Roadkill (Cal Leandros, #5))
“
There have been hermaphrodites around forever, Cal. Forever. Plato said that the original human being was a hermaphrodite. Did you know that? The original person was two halves, one male, one female. Then these got separated. That's why everybody's always searching for their other half. Except for us. We've got both halves already.
”
”
Jeffrey Eugenides (Middlesex)
“
And then, from behind me: "I thought about you. Every day."
I froze, my hand still holding the canvas flap.
Cal's voice was slightly hoarse as he continued. "Three weeks is a long time to wonder where someone is. All that time, I thought maybe I'd done the wrong thing, telling you to find the Brannicks.
I turned around then. I wanted to make a joke, or say something sarcastic, anything that would cut the tension enveloping us. Instead, I said, "I thought about you, too.
”
”
Rachel Hawkins (Spell Bound (Hex Hall, #3))
“
People who violate your boundaries are thieves. They steal time that doesn’t belong to them.
”
”
Elizabeth Grace Saunders (The 3 Secrets to Effective Time Investment: Achieve More Success with Less Stress: Foreword by Cal Newport, author of So Good They Can't Ignore You)
“
Human beings, it seems, are at their best when immersed deeply in something challenging. There
”
”
Cal Newport (Deep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World)
“
Digital minimalism definitively does not reject the innovations of the internet age, but instead rejects the way so many people currently engage with these tools.
”
”
Cal Newport (Digital Minimalism: Choosing a Focused Life in a Noisy World)
“
It doesn't matter," Min said. "That's what I'm trying to tell you, it doesn't matter what you do or say. I'm going to love you till the end of time."
Cal looked at her, stunned.
"I know," Min said. "It's really un-PC. I just thought you should know that you can't screw this up."
"I can't?" Cal said, wanting to believe her.
"No," Min said. "Which doesn't mean I'm not going to tell if you make me mad again. I will shout and slam doors. I just won't be on the other side of the door when I slam it. You've got me for life."
He lost his breath and put his forehead against her shoulder. "God, I love you.
”
”
Jennifer Crusie (Bet Me)
“
Okay, fine. But just so you know, following me into hell means you’re all definitely the sidekicks.” “Darn, I was hoping to be the rakishly charming love interest,” Archer said, taking my hand. “Cal, any role you were after?” I asked hi, and he looked ruefully at the craggy rock looking over us. As he did, there was the grinding sound of stone against stone. We all stared at the opening that appeared. “I’m just hoping to be the Not Dead Guy,” Cal muttered.
”
”
Rachel Hawkins (Spell Bound (Hex Hall, #3))
“
In this new economy, three groups will have a particular advantage: those who can work well and creatively with intelligent machines, those who are the best at what they do, and those with access to capital.
”
”
Cal Newport (Deep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World)
“
Afterwards, go to a pub for lunch. I've got $260 in my savings account and I really want you to use it for that. Really, I mean it--lunch is on me. Make sure you have pudding--sticky toffee, chocolate fudge cake, ice-cream sundae, something really bad for you. Get drunk too if you like (but don't scare Cal). Spend all the money.
And after that, when days have gone by, keep an eye out for me. I might write on the steam in the mirror when you're having a bath, or play with the leaves on the apple tree when you're out in the garden. I might slip into a dream.
Visit my grave when you can, but don't kick yourself if you can't, or if you move house and it's suddenly too far away. It looks pretty there in the summer (check out the website). You could bring a picnic and sit with me. I'd like that.
”
”
Jenny Downham (Before I Die)
“
If I could speak, I would tell Cal that I'm sorry, that I love him, that I need him. But the wind and the drop steal my breath away. I have no more words. His touch is achingly familiar, one hand at my neck, imploring me to look at him. Like me, he can't speak. But I hear his apology all the same, and he understands mine. We see nothing but each other. Not the lights of Corvium on the horizon, the ground ringing up to meet us, or the fate we're about to find. There is nothing but his eyes. Even in darkness, they glow.
”
”
Victoria Aveyard (Glass Sword (Red Queen, #2))
“
Nothing can fill you up,” she stated.
“Nope,” he agreed again.
“You won’t let it.”
“Barrel’s got a hole in the bottom, buddy, everything leaks out no matter how much you pour in.”
She was silent a moment then she whispered, “Right.”
She turned to the door and his hand gripped his bourbon so hard he had to focus everything on loosening his grip or the glass would shatter.
Before she opened it, she turned back. “You don’t know, Cal, you have no idea.
You’ve shut yourself up for so long in this fucking house with your tragic memories, you have no idea what’s about to walk out your door. Kate, Keira and me, we could have plugged that hole. We could have filled you so full, you’d be bursting. We would have loved that chance. We’d have given it everything we had, no matter the time that slid by, graduations, weddings, grandbabies, you’d have been a part of us and we’d have given everything we had to keep you
so full, you’d be bursting.”
Cal didn’t reply.
“Joe,” she whispered, “you let me walk out this door, you’ll lose your chance.”
Cal didn’t move.
Vi waited.
Cal stayed seated.
”
”
Kristen Ashley (At Peace (The 'Burg, #2))
“
We tend to place a lot of emphasis on our circumstances, assuming that what happens to us (or fails to happen) determines how we feel. From this perspective, the small-scale details of how you spend your day aren’t that important, because what matters are the large-scale outcomes, such as whether or not you get a promotion or move to that nicer apartment. According to Gallagher, decades of research contradict this understanding. Our brains instead construct our worldview based on what we pay attention to.
”
”
Cal Newport (Deep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World)
“
She pushed him onto the couch and straddled him...
Min swallowed "the thing is, im going to spread. Hips, thighs-"
"Not till nine-thirty," Cal said trying not to picture her.
"-waist," Min said then stopped. "What? nine-thirty? Not till my forties, probably, i think i can fight it off that long, but then-"
"What?" Cal said.
"Im going to get fat," Min said, and he blinked. "Er. Im going to get fatter." she frowned at him. "what did you think i meant?"
"for future reference," he said starting to laugh. "if you're sitting half naked on my lap and you tell me you're going to spread-"
"No! I would never say that!" she said.
”
”
Jennifer Crusie (Bet Me)
“
That's what it's going to be then, brothers, as I come to the like end of this tale. You have been everywhere with your little droog Alex, suffering with him, and you have viddied some of the most grahzny bratchnies old Bog ever made, all on to your old droog Alex. And all it was was that I was young. But now as I end this story, brothers, I am not young, not no longer, oh no. Alex like groweth up, oh yes.
But where I itty now, O my brothers, is all on my oddy knocky, where you cannot go. Tomorrow is all like sweet flowers and the turning young earth and the stars and the old Luna up there and your old droog Alex all on his oddy knocky seeking like a mate. And all that cal. A terrible grahzny vonny world, really, O my brothers. And so farewell from your little droog. And to all others in this story profound shooms of lipmusic brrrrrr. And they can kiss my sharries. But you, O my brothers, remember sometimes thy little Alex that was. Amen. And all that call.
”
”
Anthony Burgess (A Clockwork Orange)
“
He gently pried my hand off his arm. "I have to," he said softly. He went to turn away, and then stopped, like maybe he was reconsidering. But instead of agreeing to come back to the Itineris with me, he reached out, cupped my face, and brought his lips to mine.
I was so shocked that I literally froze in place, one hand hovering in the air next to Cal's shoulder. The kiss was brief--just a little too long to be considered chaste--but when he pulled away, all I could do was stare at him, my mouth slightly agape. He ran his thumb over my lower lip, sending a tiny flurry of sparks through me. "Goodbye, Sophie.
”
”
Rachel Hawkins (Demonglass (Hex Hall, #2))
“
if you keep interrupting your evening to check and respond to e-mail, or put aside a few hours after dinner to catch up on an approaching deadline, you’re robbing your directed attention centers of the uninterrupted rest they need for restoration. Even if these work dashes consume only a small amount of time, they prevent you from reaching the levels of deeper relaxation in which attention restoration can occur. Only the confidence that you’re done with work until the next day can convince your brain to downshift to the level where it can begin to recharge for the next day to follow. Put another way, trying to squeeze a little more work out of your evenings might reduce your effectiveness the next day enough that you end up getting less done than if you had instead respected a shutdown.
”
”
Cal Newport (Deep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World)
“
Most kids don't believe in fairy tales very long. Once they hit six or seven they put away "Cinderella" and
her shoe fetish, "The Three Little Pigs" with their violation of building codes, "Miss Muffet" and her
well-shaped tuffet—all forgotten or discounted. And maybe that's the way it has to be. To survive in the
world, you have to give up the fantasies, the make-believe. The only trouble is that it's not all
make-believe. Some parts of the fairy tales are all too real, all too true. There might not be a Red Riding
Hood, but there is a Big Bad Wolf. No Snow White, but definitely an Evil Queen. No obnoxiously cute
blond tots, but a child-eating witch… yeah. Oh yeah.
”
”
Rob Thurman (Nightlife (Cal Leandros, #1))