Attolia Quote by Megan Whalen Turner
“She pulled the bedclothes up as far as they would go and suppressed a perverse wish to have her old nurse come to chase away the darkness, perverse because she didn't know if she wanted the shadows to be empty or not.”
About This Quote
Source Novel: The Thief, by Megan Whalen Turner, 1996
A character battles inner conflict, fearing both the presence and absence of darkness, revealing uncertainty about comfort and emptiness.
In simple terms: She is torn between wanting light and fearing emptiness.
Key Takeaway
Accept uncertainty and explore what you truly need.
Themes
inner conflict
fear
comfort
uncertainty
Mood
anxious
contemplative
Type
literary
psychological
When to use this quote
- nighttime anxiety
- creative writing
- personal reflection
Key Concepts
psychology
existential dread
self-awareness
Questions to Reflect On
- What does the darkness represent for you?
- How do you balance fear of emptiness with fear of excess?
A Different Perspective
The desire for darkness may mask deeper needs for safety.
![“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)
![“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)
