--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Madoc says you will duel for love,' I…" description: "\"“Madoc says you will duel for love,' I say. 'Whose?' he asks, frowning. There is no banquet too abundant for a starving man. I shake my head. 'It's you..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/408/holly-black-329_cardan_madoc-says-you-will-duel-for-love-i-say_686775.png" --- # Madoc says you will duel for love,' I say. 'Whose?' he… ![“Madoc says you will duel for love,' I say. 'Whose?' he asks, frowning. There is no banquet too abundant for a starving man. I shake my head. 'It's you I love,' he says. 'I spent much of my life guarding my heart. I guarded it so well that I could behave as though I didn't have one at all. Even…” quote by Holly Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/408/holly-black-329_cardan_madoc-says-you-will-duel-for-love-i-say_686775.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/408/holly-black-329_cardan_madoc-says-you-will-duel-for-love-i-say_686775.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/408/holly-black-329_cardan_madoc-says-you-will-duel-for-love-i-say_686775.png) > ““Madoc says you will duel for love,' I say. 'Whose?' he asks, frowning. There is no banquet too abundant for a starving man. I shake my head. 'It's you I love,' he says. 'I spent much of my life guarding my heart. I guarded it so well that I could behave as though I didn't have one at all. Even now, it is a shabby, worm-eaten, and scabrous thing. But it is yours.' He walks to the door to the royal chambers as though to end the conversation. 'You probably guessed as much,' he says. 'But just in case you didn't.' He opens the door to prevent me from responding. Abruptly, we are no longer alone. ... I can't believe he said that and then just walked out, leaving me reeling. I am going to strangle him.”” [Holly Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-black/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A lover confesses guarded heart, offering it despite fear, but the speaker feels betrayed and angry, leading to violent thoughts. **In simple terms:** A confession of love triggers betrayal and rage. Key Takeaway Reflect before reacting violently. Themes love trust betrayal Mood hurt angry Type emotional cautionary When to use this quote - romantic relationships - conflict resolution - mental health - communication Key Concepts emotional vulnerability defensive mechanisms Questions to Reflect On - How can you express hurt without aggression? - What healthier outlets exist for betrayal pain? A Different Perspective Violence is a harmful coping strategy that escalates harm. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cardan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cardan/) [Cardan-greenbriar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cardan-greenbriar/) [Declaration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/declaration/) [Duel Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/duel-love-3109554/) [Gaze](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gaze/) [Guarding Heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guarding-heart-1017331/) [Heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heart/) [Heart Guarded](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heart-guarded-1017330/) [Holly-black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/holly-black/) [Jude](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jude/) [Jude-duarte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jude-duarte/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Madoc Says](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/madoc-says-5423061/) [Says Duel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/says-duel-5423062/) [The-folk-of-the-air](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/the-folk-of-the-air/) [The-queen-of-nothing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/the-queen-of-nothing/) ## Related quotes > [“It's you I love," he says. "I spent much of my life guarding my heart. I guarded it so well that I could behave…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-black/it-s-you-i-love-he-says-i-spent-much-of-my-life-guarding-my-heart-i/) [Holly Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-black/) > [“The version of you who forgot his love, a creature more lithotroph than human, failed to pull the trigger, but died on the field…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-wright/the-version-of-you-who-forgot-his-love-a-creature-more-lithotroph/) [John C. Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-wright/) > [I pray your heart to be guarded from every set up of the enemy with bitterness, un-forgiveness, hurt & disappointment in Jesus' name](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jefroy-hanson/i-pray-your-heart-to-be-guarded-from-every-set-up-of-the-enemy-with/) [Jefroy Hanson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jefroy-hanson/) > [“It is difficult, though, not to be shamed be being nearly undressed, with bed hair and bad breath.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-black/it-is-difficult-though-not-to-be-shamed-be-being-nearly-undressed/) [Holly Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-black/) > [“You are mortal. You will not last long.' ... 'That's what mortal means,' I say with a sigh that I don't have to fake.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-black/you-are-mortal-you-will-not-last-long-that-s-what-mortal-means-i-say/) [Holly Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-black/) > [“Everything is ferns, leaf mold, the crackle of fire, and the hum of distant voices.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-black/everything-is-ferns-leaf-mold-the-crackle-of-fire-and-the-hum-of/) [Holly Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-black/) > [“You should go.' 'This is my room,' he points out, affronted. 'And that's my wife.' 'So you keep telling everyone,' the Bomb says. 'But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-black/you-should-go-this-is-my-room-he-points-out-affronted-and-that-s-my/) [Holly Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-black/) > [“My sweet nemesis , how glad I am that you returned”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-black/my-sweet-nemesis-how-glad-i-am-that-you-returned/) [Holly Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-black/) > [“It is said that faerie children are not like mortal children. They need little in the way of love. They need not be tucked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-black/it-is-said-that-faerie-children-are-not-like-mortal-children-they/) [Holly Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-black/) > [“I am kind of in control and out of control at the same time.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-black/i-am-kind-of-in-control-and-out-of-control-at-the-same-time/) [Holly Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-black/) > [“Please,' I say to the dirt floor of the brugh, to the earth itself. 'I will do whatever you want. I will give up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-black/please-i-say-to-the-dirt-floor-of-the-brugh-to-the-earth-itself-i/) [Holly Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-black/) > [“We don't always have a choice in our fate.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-black/we-don-t-always-have-a-choice-in-our-fate/) [Holly Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-black/) > [“Then Cardan comes in to view, a fond smile on his lips. When he speaks, he does so in a conspiratorial whisper. 'When I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-black/then-cardan-comes-in-to-view-a-fond-smile-on-his-lips-when-he-speaks/) [Holly Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-black/) > [“Are you angry about-' He cuts himself off, looking at my face more carefully. 'No, you're afraid. But why would you be afraid of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-black/are-you-angry-about-he-cuts-himself-off-looking-at-my-face-more/) [Holly Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-black/) > [“No, I won't help you. No I won't hear you explain why I should. It really is a magical word: no. You say whatever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-black/no-i-won-t-help-you-no-i-won-t-hear-you-explain-why-i-should-it/) [Holly Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-black/) ## More by Holly Black > [“What they don’t realize is this: Yes, they frighten me, but I have always been scared, since the day I got here. I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-black/what-they-don-t-realize-is-this-yes-they-frighten-me-but-i-have/) [Holly Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-black/) > [When you don't know what you're searching for, you have to look absolutely everywhere.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-black/when-you-don-t-know-what-you-re-searching-for-you-have-to-look/) [Holly Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-black/) > [“Madoc makes a snorting sound, then turns to me. 'I am sure that Wren here wouldn't mind taking Lady Nore's castle and lands for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-black/madoc-makes-a-snorting-sound-then-turns-to-me-i-am-sure-that-wren/) [Holly Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-black/) > [That’s family for you. Can’t live with them, can’t murder them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-black/that-s-family-for-you-can-t-live-with-them-can-t-murder-them/) [Holly Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-black/) > [“No, I won't help you. No I won't hear you explain why I should. It really is a magical word: no. You say whatever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-black/no-i-won-t-help-you-no-i-won-t-hear-you-explain-why-i-should-it/) [Holly Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-black/) > [Let her alone,' said the enkanto, 'or I will curse you blind, lame, and worse.' The old man laughed. 'I'm a curse breaker, fool.'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-black/let-her-alone-said-the-enkanto-or-i-will-curse-you-blind-lame-and/) [Holly Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-black/) > [“lt's an honor and a delight to meet you and a tragedy you're here”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-black/lt-s-an-honor-and-a-delight-to-meet-you-and-a-tragedy-you-re-here/) [Holly Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-black/) > [“No fire at all.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-black/no-fire-at-all/) [Holly Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-black/) > [“His wax-white skin was cool to the touch when she brushed his neck to find the knot of cloth. She'd never been this close…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-black/his-wax-white-skin-was-cool-to-the-touch-when-she-brushed-his-neck-to/) [Holly Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-black/) > [So what are you really wearing?" The words left her mouth before she could consider them. She winced. He didn't seem to mind; in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-black/so-what-are-you-really-wearing-the-words-left-her-mouth-before-she/) [Holly Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-black/) > [“I grab a chair. "I don't mean to pry," I say, "but we're in a hospital. You sure you're fine?" She sighs heavily. "No…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-black/i-grab-a-chair-i-don-t-mean-to-pry-i-say-but-we-re-in-a-hospital-you/) [Holly Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-black/) > [Kaye: You know what the sun looks like? Janet: No, What? Kaye: Like he slit his wrists in a bathtub and the blood is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-black/kaye-you-know-what-the-sun-looks-like-janet-no-what-kaye-like-he-slit/) [Holly Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-black/) > [“That was how she felt, right then. As if there was too much of her, as if her skin was tight with muchness. She…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-black/that-was-how-she-felt-right-then-as-if-there-was-too-much-of-her-as/) [Holly Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-black/) > [“It was a vow, a piece of a chant, their scripture, something they took so seriously that saying it aloud embarrassed them.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-black/it-was-a-vow-a-piece-of-a-chant-their-scripture-something-they-took/) [Holly Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-black/) > [“Some broken things stay broken”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-black/some-broken-things-stay-broken/) [Holly Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-black/) [Explore all 666 Holly Black quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-black/) ## More Cardan quotes > [“Oak gave up his room so they could sleep there, and although the bed is small, Cardan cannot mind when he takes Jude in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-black/oak-gave-up-his-room-so-they-could-sleep-there-and-although-the-bed/) [Holly Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-black/) > [“Are you angry about-' He cuts himself off, looking at my face more carefully. 'No, you're afraid. But why would you be afraid of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-black/are-you-angry-about-he-cuts-himself-off-looking-at-my-face-more/) [Holly Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-black/) > [“Then Cardan comes in to view, a fond smile on his lips. When he speaks, he does so in a conspiratorial whisper. 'When I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-black/then-cardan-comes-in-to-view-a-fond-smile-on-his-lips-when-he-speaks/) [Holly Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-black/) > [“Most of all, I hate you because I think of you. Often. It's disgusting, and I can't stop.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-black/most-of-all-i-hate-you-because-i-think-of-you-often-it-s-disgusting/) [Holly Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-black/) > [“He realizes he doesn't want to play this game, once so familiar to him. He has no interest in trading barbs. He has no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-black/he-realizes-he-doesn-t-want-to-play-this-game-once-so-familiar-to-him/) [Holly Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-black/) > [“Kill him, a part of me says, a part I remember from the night I took him captive. Kill him before he makes you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-black/kill-him-a-part-of-me-says-a-part-i-remember-from-the-night-i-took/) [Holly Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-black/) > [“I have thought and thought since you were gone, and there is something I wish to say.' Cardan's face is serious, almost grave, in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-black/i-have-thought-and-thought-since-you-were-gone-and-there-is-something/) [Holly Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-black/) > [“I think of Madoc, dozing away upstairs, all his dreams of murder. I think of Oriana and Oak being forced apart for years. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-black/i-think-of-madoc-dozing-away-upstairs-all-his-dreams-of-murder-i/) [Holly Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-black/) > [“It is said that faerie children are not like mortal children. They need little in the way of love. They need not be tucked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-black/it-is-said-that-faerie-children-are-not-like-mortal-children-they/) [Holly Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-black/) > [“She's my wife," Cardan says, his voice carrying over the crowd. "The rightful High Queen of Elfhame. And most definitely not in exile.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-black/she-s-my-wife-cardan-says-his-voice-carrying-over-the-crowd-the/) [Holly Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-black/) > [“My sweet nemesis , how glad I am that you returned”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-black/my-sweet-nemesis-how-glad-i-am-that-you-returned/) [Holly Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-black/) > [“You should go.' 'This is my room,' he points out, affronted. 'And that's my wife.' 'So you keep telling everyone,' the Bomb says. 'But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-black/you-should-go-this-is-my-room-he-points-out-affronted-and-that-s-my/) [Holly Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-black/) > [“Jude, he'd said, running a hand up my calf, are you afraid of me?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-black/jude-he-d-said-running-a-hand-up-my-calf-are-you-afraid-of-me/) [Holly Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-black/) > [“The Roach clasps his hand on the back of my neck with a laugh. 'You did good, kid, you know that? You came out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-black/the-roach-clasps-his-hand-on-the-back-of-my-neck-with-a-laugh-you-did/) [Holly Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-black/) > [“I recall that your hands were on her, but her eyes were on me,' Cardan returns.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-black/i-recall-that-your-hands-were-on-her-but-her-eyes-were-on-me-cardan/) [Holly Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-black/) [Browse all 92 Cardan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cardan/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Madoc says you will duel for love,' I say. 'Whose?' he asks, frowning. There is no banquet too abundant for a starving man. I shake my head. 'It's you I love,' he says. 'I spent much of my life guarding my heart. I guarded it so well that I could behave as though I didn't have one at all. Even now, it is a shabby, worm-eaten, and scabrous thing. But it is yours.' He walks to the door to the royal chambers as though to end the conversation. 'You probably guessed as much,' he says. 'But just in case you didn't.' He opens the door to prevent me from responding. Abruptly, we are no longer alone. ... I can't believe he said that and then just walked out, leaving me reeling. I am going to strangle him.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Holly Black" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-black/madoc-says-you-will-duel-for-love-i-say-whose-he-asks-frowning-there/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Cardan" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-black/madoc-says-you-will-duel-for-love-i-say-whose-he-asks-frowning-there/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/408/holly-black-329_cardan_madoc-says-you-will-duel-for-love-i-say_686775.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/408/holly-black-329_cardan_madoc-says-you-will-duel-for-love-i-say_686775.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/408/holly-black-329_cardan_madoc-says-you-will-duel-for-love-i-say_686775.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Madoc says you will duel for love,' I say. 'Whose?' he asks, frowning. 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