Gaze Quote by Jasper Fforde
““After almost two hours, the phone rang. I could guess who it was. "Hello, Blix," I said before he could say anything. "Adding kidnapping to your long list of felonies?" "We prefer to think of it as 'vacationing at the specific invitation of His Majesty," replied Blix. "Open the top drawer of the bureau." I did so, and found a contract for Kazam to concede the competition, with all the details that Blix had already outlined. The document had been prepared by a law firm in Financia and registered with the Ununited Kingdoms Supreme Court, so even if King Snodd had wanted to reverse the deal, he couldn't. "It's all there," said Blix. "I knew my or the King's word wouldn't be good enough, so I made it official. Sign it and your vacation in the North Tower is over." "And if I don't?" "Then you'll stay there until six Mondays from now, and we'll have Kazam for nothing." "Blix?" "Yes?" "Are you in the castle watching the top of the North Tower at the moment?" "I might be." I ripped the phone from the wall and tossed it out the open window. The telephone took almost five seconds to hit the ground. It was a pointless gesture, but very satisfying.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: The Last Mortal Engines, Jasper Fforde, 2022
A tense exchange reveals a power play using legal contracts and threats, ending with a symbolic act of defiance.
In simple terms: Contracts can bind power; rebellion can be symbolic.
Use legal means wisely, but act when necessary.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- corporate negotiations
- political intrigue
- personal agency
- risk assessment
- conflict resolution
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- What drives the protagonist to destroy the phone?
- Is symbolic defiance effective?
Legal contracts may not guarantee compliance if parties resist.