--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There is a coldness to the Clave, it is…" description: "\"There is a coldness to the Clave, it is true. We are dust and shadows. But you are like the heroes of ancient times, like Achilles and Jason.” “Achille..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/906/cassandra-clare-9_achilles_there-is-a-coldness-to-the-clave-it-is-t_636948.jpg" --- # There is a coldness to the Clave, it is true. We are dust… ![“There is a coldness to the Clave, it is true. We are dust and shadows. But you are like the heroes of ancient times, like Achilles and Jason.” “Achilles was murdered with a poisoned arrow, and Jason died alone, killed by his own rotting ship. Such is the fate of heroes; the Angel knows why anyone…” quote by Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/906/cassandra-clare-9_achilles_there-is-a-coldness-to-the-clave-it-is-t_636948.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/906/cassandra-clare-9_achilles_there-is-a-coldness-to-the-clave-it-is-t_636948.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/906/cassandra-clare-9_achilles_there-is-a-coldness-to-the-clave-it-is-t_636948.jpg) > “There is a coldness to the Clave, it is true. We are dust and shadows. But you are like the heroes of ancient times, like Achilles and Jason.” “Achilles was murdered with a poisoned arrow, and Jason died alone, killed by his own rotting ship. Such is the fate of heroes; the Angel knows why anyone would want to be one.” [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Heroes face inevitable downfall; recognizing mortality tempers ambition and underscores humility. **In simple terms:** Heroes die; accept limits. Key Takeaway Balance ambition with humility. Themes heroism mortality hubris fate legacy Mood melancholic thoughtful inspirational Type fiction philosophical motivational When to use this quote - personal goal setting - leadership training - risk assessment - creative writing - ethical debates Key Concepts mythology psychology existentialism literary archetype Questions to Reflect On - What qualities define true heroism? - How does acknowledging mortality influence our choices? A Different Perspective Idealizing heroism can ignore ordinary virtues. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Achilles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/achilles/) [Achilles Murdered](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/achilles-murdered-2447722/) [Ancient](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ancient/) [Ancient times](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ancient-times/) [Angel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/angel/) [Arrows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/arrows/) [Coldness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/coldness/) [Dust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dust/) [Fate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fate/) [Hero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hero/) [Heroes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heroes/) [Heroes Ancient](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heroes-ancient-1537953/) [Jason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jason/) [Like Achilles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/like-achilles-1223807/) [Poisoned Arrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poisoned-arrow-2398892/) [Rotting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rotting/) [Shadow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shadow/) [Ships](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ships/) [Tessa gray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tessa-gray/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want/) [Will herondale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/will-herondale/) ## Related quotes > [Achilles was murdered with a poisoned arrow, and Jason died alone, killed by his own rotting ship. Such is the fate of heroes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/achilles-was-murdered-with-a-poisoned-arrow-and-jason-died-alone/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [“Heroes of the ancient world wore masks, costumes, heavy armors, and were licensed to kill. True Heroes of the New World are those who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/premlatha-rajkumar/heroes-of-the-ancient-world-wore-masks-costumes-heavy-armors-and-were/) [Premlatha Rajkumar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/premlatha-rajkumar/) > [“The modern hero is a person who does something everyone thinks they could do if they were a little stronger, a little faster, a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-edwards/the-modern-hero-is-a-person-who-does-something-everyone-thinks-they/) [John Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-edwards/) > [“The heroes of ancient Greece wept more often than our silly, sentimental modern women. They knew it did no good to hold it back.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-maria-remarque/the-heroes-of-ancient-greece-wept-more-often-than-our-silly/) [Erich Maria Remarque](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-maria-remarque/) > [You know, you can't see or touch and isn't embodied. But they were all fallible, the Gods. And they would kind of rise and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-weisz/you-know-you-can-t-see-or-touch-and-isn-t-embodied-but-they-were-all/) [Rachel Weisz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-weisz/) > [While my friend was my friend, he flattered me, and I never heard the truth from him. When he became my enemy, he shot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/while-my-friend-was-my-friend-he-flattered-me-and-i-never-heard-the/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [For violence, like Achilles' lance, can heal the wounds it has inflicted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/for-violence-like-achilles-lance-can-heal-the-wounds-it-has-inflicted/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Calumny crosses oceans, scales mountains and traverses deserts, with greater ease than the Scythian Abaris, and like him, rides upon a poisoned arrow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/calumny-crosses-oceans-scales-mountains-and-traverses-deserts-with/) [Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/) > [“Her eyes were liquid silver as they narrowed at him, swirling with as many mysteries as the stars in the night sky. "I want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerrigan-byrne/her-eyes-were-liquid-silver-as-they-narrowed-at-him-swirling-with-as/) [Kerrigan Byrne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerrigan-byrne/) > [“HOWEVER skilled and strong art thou, my foe, However fierce is thy relentless hate Though firm thy hand, and strong thy aim and straight…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ella-wheeler-wilcox/however-skilled-and-strong-art-thou-my-foe-however-fierce-is-thy/) [Ella Wheeler Wilcox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ella-wheeler-wilcox/) > [“Was it possible—was it at all possible that she could come out of her most desperate choice with a man as clever as Odysseus…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherry-thomas/was-it-possible-was-it-at-all-possible-that-she-could-come-out-of-her/) [Sherry Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherry-thomas/) > [“Oh. THere goes another one. Just like Achilles.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil/oh-there-goes-another-one-just-like-achilles/) [Phil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil/) > [Like Achilles, the hero who forgot his heel, or like Icarus who, flying close to the sun, forgot that his wings were made of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-longenecker/like-achilles-the-hero-who-forgot-his-heel-or-like-icarus-who-flying/) [Dwight Longenecker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-longenecker/) > [“I did not think you would be angry, Jem burst out, and it was like ice cracking across a frozen waterfall, freeing a torrent.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/i-did-not-think-you-would-be-angry-jem-burst-out-and-it-was-like-ice/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [One must always be careful of books,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/one-must-always-be-careful-of-books/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) ## More by Cassandra Clare > [Against his own will, almost, Will felt himself understanding; he would have done anything, he thought, told any lie, taken any risk, to make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/against-his-own-will-almost-will-felt-himself-understanding-he-would/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [“So Jace is my actual family," Kit said. "But I can't go live with him, because him and his hot girlfriend are going off…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/so-jace-is-my-actual-family-kit-said-but-i-can-t-go-live-with-him/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [Clarissa," he said, "here with the vampire, I see. When things have settled a bit, we really must discuss you choice in pets..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/clarissa-he-said-here-with-the-vampire-i-see-when-things-have-settled/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [Must I go bound while you go free Must I love a manwho doesn't love me Must I be born with so little art…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/must-i-go-bound-while-you-go-free-must-i-love-a-manwho-doesn-t-love/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [If you're texting Magnus to say 'I think u r kewl,' I'm going to kill you." "Who's Magnus?" Max inquired. "He's a warlock," said…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/if-you-re-texting-magnus-to-say-i-think-u-r-kewl-i-m-going-to-kill/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [“they all have always loved you Will Herondale, for you cannot hide what is good about yourself, however har you try.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/they-all-have-always-loved-you-will-herondale-for-you-cannot-hide/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [“We work through this together, remember? No shutting me out. No epic sulks.” “I was figuring I could sulk for Idris in the next…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/we-work-through-this-together-remember-no-shutting-me-out-no-epic/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [“Lex malla, lex nulla,” said Julian with a regretful wave of his hand. It was the Blackthorn family motto: A bad law is no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/lex-malla-lex-nulla-said-julian-with-a-regretful-wave-of-his-hand-it/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [Maybe that was why she couldn't cry, she realized, staring dry-eyed at the ceiling. Because what was the point in crying when there was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/maybe-that-was-why-she-couldn-t-cry-she-realized-staring-dry-eyed-at/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [I'm memorable, its true." -Magnus, pg.229-](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/i-m-memorable-its-true-magnus-pg-229/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [“There is more to living than not dying.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/there-is-more-to-living-than-not-dying/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [Unless there was a reason for me to stay.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/unless-there-was-a-reason-for-me-to-stay/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [Love didn't make you weak, it made you stronger.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/love-didn-t-make-you-weak-it-made-you-stronger/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [“I wasn’t just worried about him; I was worried about you, too. There’s something so . . . reassuring about you. And Jace is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/i-wasn-t-just-worried-about-him-i-was-worried-about-you-too-there-s/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [I firmly believe that you can't get a good movie without risking a bad movie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/i-firmly-believe-that-you-can-t-get-a-good-movie-without-risking-a/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) [Explore all 4,049 Cassandra Clare quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) ## More Achilles quotes > [Suppose that we are wise enough to learn and know-and yet not wise enough to control our learning and knowledge, so that we use…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-asimov/suppose-that-we-are-wise-enough-to-learn-and-know-and-yet-not-wise/) [Isaac Asimov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-asimov/) > [“Bury us, and mark our names above. Let us be free.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeline-miller/bury-us-and-mark-our-names-above-let-us-be-free/) [Madeline Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeline-miller/) > [Ah, beer, my one weakness. My Achille's heel, if you will.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/homer/ah-beer-my-one-weakness-my-achille-s-heel-if-you-will/) [Homer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/homer/) > [“Patroclus, he says, Patroclus. Patroclus. Over and over until it is sound only.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeline-miller/patroclus-he-says-patroclus-patroclus-over-and-over-until-it-is-sound/) [Madeline Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeline-miller/) > [There comes a point where certain things are becoming my Achilles heel; you know when you start repeating yourself and saying the same anecdotes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-elson/there-comes-a-point-where-certain-things-are-becoming-my-achilles/) [Karen Elson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-elson/) > [To reveal imprudently the spot where we are most sensitive and vulnerable is to invite a blow. The demigod Achilles admitted no one to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophie-swetchine/to-reveal-imprudently-the-spot-where-we-are-most-sensitive-and/) [Sophie Swetchine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophie-swetchine/) > [Like Achilles, the hero who forgot his heel, or like Icarus who, flying close to the sun, forgot that his wings were made of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-longenecker/like-achilles-the-hero-who-forgot-his-heel-or-like-icarus-who-flying/) [Dwight Longenecker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-longenecker/) > [And overpowered by memory Both men gave way to grief. Priam wept freely For man - killing Hector, throbbing, crouching Before Achilles' feet as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/homer/and-overpowered-by-memory-both-men-gave-way-to-grief-priam-wept/) [Homer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/homer/) > [“Briseis is kneeling by my body. She has brought water and cloth, and washes the blood and dirt from my skin. Her hands are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeline-miller/briseis-is-kneeling-by-my-body-she-has-brought-water-and-cloth-and/) [Madeline Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeline-miller/) > [When we consider the weak and nerveless periods of some literary men, who perchance in feet and inches come up to the standard oftheir…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/when-we-consider-the-weak-and-nerveless-periods-of-some-literary-men/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [Personal integrity in Achilles achieves the form and authority of immanent divinity, with its inviolable, lonely singleness, half repellent because of its almost inhuman…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cedric-h-whitman/personal-integrity-in-achilles-achieves-the-form-and-authority-of/) [Cedric H Whitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cedric-h-whitman/) > [As the Cameroonian philosopher Achille Mbembe has presciently pointed out, neoliberal corporate globalism threatens to exploit that advantage like never before, and it seems…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-naffis-sahely/as-the-cameroonian-philosopher-achille-mbembe-has-presciently-pointed/) [Andre Naffis-Sahely](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-naffis-sahely/) > [“I listened and did not speak. Achilles’ eyes were bright in the firelight, his face drawn sharply by the flickering shadows. I would know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-listened-and-did-not-speak-achilles-eyes-were-bright-in-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [At Achilles tomb, O fortunate youth, to have found Homer as the herald of your glory!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-the-great/at-achilles-tomb-o-fortunate-youth-to-have-found-homer-as-the-herald/) [Alexander the Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-the-great/) > [The Achilles Heel of the Americas was the lack of cultural confidence typical of new settlers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-erickson/the-achilles-heel-of-the-americas-was-the-lack-of-cultural-confidence/) [Arthur Erickson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-erickson/) [Browse all 180 Achilles quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/achilles/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "There is a coldness to the Clave, it is true. We are dust and shadows. 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