Skip to content

Scout Quote by Cassandra Clare

“You are not really dying,” he said, the oddest tone to his voice, “are you?”Jem nodded. “So they tell me.”“I am sorry,” Will said.“No,” Jem said softly. He drew his jacket aside and took a knife from the belt at his waist.“Don’t be ordinary like that. Don’t say you’re sorry. Say you’ll train with…” quote by Cassandra Clare
Download Open image
““You are not really dying,” he said, the oddest tone to his voice, “are you?”Jem nodded. “So they tell me.”“I am sorry,” Will said.“No,” Jem said softly. He drew his jacket aside and took a knife from the belt at his waist.“Don’t be ordinary like that. Don’t say you’re sorry. Say you’ll train with me.” He held out the knife to Will, hilt rst. Charlotte held her breath, afraid to move. She feltas if she were watching something very important happen, though she could not have saidwhat.Will reached out and took the knife, his eyes never leaving Jem’s face. His fingers brushedthe other boy’s as he took the weapon from him. It was the rst time, Charlotte thought,that she had ever seen him touch any other person willingly.“I’ll train with you,” he said. Jem, Will’s parabatai, treated her with the distant sweet kindness reserved for the littlesisters of one’s friends, but he would always side with Will. Kindly, but rmly, he put Willabove everything else in the world.Well, nearly everything. She had been most struck by Jem when she rst came to theInstitute—he had an unearthly, unusual beauty, with his silvery hair and eyes and delicate features. He looked like a prince in a fairy-tale book, and she might have considered developing an attachment to him, were it not so absolutely clear that he was entirely inlove with Tessa Gray. His eyes followed her where she went, and his voice changed when hespoke to her. Cecily had once heard her mother say in amusement that one of theirneighbors’ boys looked at a girl as if she were “the only star in the sky” and that was theway Jem looked at Tessa.Cecily didn’t resent it: Tessa was pleasant and kind to her, if a little shy, and with herface always stuck in a book, like Will. If that was the sort of girl Jem wanted, she and henever would have suited—and the longer she remained at the Institute, the more sherealized how awkward it would have made things with Will. He was ferociously protectiveof Jem, and he would have watched her constantly in case she ever distressed or hurt him inany way. No—she was far better out of the whole thing.””

Cassandra Clare

About This Quote

In this passage, characters confront mortality and loyalty, choosing to train together rather than succumb to ordinary fear, highlighting themes of sacrifice, mentorship, and intense camaraderie.

In simple terms: Friends choose purposeful training over passive fear.

Key Takeaway

Shared purpose transforms ordinary moments into profound bonds.

Themes

friendship loyalty coming‑of‑age fantasy

Mood

intense dramatic

Type

narrative excerpt character study

When to use this quote

  • team‑building exercises
  • rituals of initiation
  • literary analysis of mentorship

Key Concepts

mentor‑protégé dynamics identity formation

Practical Applications

  • using the scene to discuss commitment in groups
  • exploring character motivation in creative writing

Questions to Reflect On

  • What does ‘training together’ symbolize for the characters?
  • How does fear shape their relationship?
A Different Perspective

The glorification of danger may romanticize harmful risk‑taking.

2.2 out of 5 (8 ratings)

More by Cassandra Clare

Explore all 4,050 Cassandra Clare quotes

More Scout quotes

Browse all 34 Scout quotes