Attolia Quote by Megan Whalen Turner
![“Lilies, I rule, heads, you do," he [the King] said, and threw the coin into the air. "Lilies, you rule, heads, you throw again," said Attolia. The coin dropped. Eugenides looked at it and then showed it to her. "No need," he said. The coin sat in his palm, obverse, showing the lilies of Attolia…” quote by Megan Whalen Turner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/ace/megan-whalen-turner-1289_attolia_lilies-i-rule-heads-you-do-he-the-king-s_375026.jpg)
““Lilies, I rule, heads, you do," he [the King] said, and threw the coin into the air. "Lilies, you rule, heads, you throw again," said Attolia. The coin dropped. Eugenides looked at it and then showed it to her. "No need," he said. The coin sat in his palm, obverse, showing the lilies of Attolia. He flipped it again and again and again. Each time it landed showing the lilies. ... (Relius) He wanted to dismiss the coin toss as slight of hand. Any circus performer could control the drop of a coin, but he'd been puzzled. The queen had been undismayed; she had seemed almost vindicated in her manner. It had been the King who was more disturbed with each toss of the coin. He'd looked almost sick, Relius thought, by the time he put the coin away. ... Walking away along the arcade that lay perpendicular to the one where Relius lurked, the king pulled the coin from his pocket. He looked at the gold stater in sudden disgust and pitched it hard between the columns of the arcade into the shrubbery.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: The Queen's Thief, 1999
The king’s repeated coin tosses reveal his obsession with control and his growing revulsion toward wealth and power.
In simple terms: The king is disturbed by his own power and the symbolism of the coin.
Key Takeaway
Recognize when obsession with control becomes self‑destructive.
Themes
power
control
wealth
disgust
Mood
tense
reflective
Type
literary
psychological
When to use this quote
- court intrigue
- personal reflection
- decision making
- leadership challenges
Key Concepts
symbolism
psychology
authority
Questions to Reflect On
- What does the coin represent to the king?
- How can obsession with control harm one’s well‑being?
A Different Perspective
The king’s disgust may stem from deeper moral conflict, not just the coin itself.
![“I woke with a terrible headache and wobbled around 'till I fell out the window." "You what?" "Fell out the window. That one over there." She [Edwina] gestured to the curtain behind her. "I broke my back. My spine is all wobbly now, but it doesn't hurt.” quote by Megan Whalen Turner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/699/megan-whalen-turner-1289_behinds_i-woke-with-a-terrible-headache-and-wobb_56744.jpg)
