Stone Dragons Quote by Susanna Clarke
““Mr Segundus found two stone dragons no longer than his forearm, which slipped one after the other, over and under and between stone hawthorn branches, stone hawthorn leaves, stone hawthorn roots and stone hawthorn tendrils. They moved, it seemed, with as much ease as any other creature and yet the sound of so many stone muscles moving together under a stone skin, that scraped stone ribs, that clashed against a heart made of stone – and the sound of stone claws rattling over stone branches – was quite intolerable and Mr Segundus wondered that they could bear it. He observed a little cloud of gritty dust, such as attends the work of a stonecutter, that surrounded them and rose up in the air; and he believed that if the spell allowed them to remain in motion for any length of time they would wear themselves away to a sliver of limestone.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell, 2004
Stone creatures appear alive, but their motion creates unbearable noise, hinting at the cost of magical endurance.
In simple terms: Magical beings seem alive but cause painful noise, showing limits of enchantment.
Key Takeaway
Beware the hidden costs of power.
Themes
magic
consequences
endurance
illusion
pain
Mood
melancholic
reflective
Type
literary
descriptive
When to use this quote
- fantasy literature
- worldbuilding
- magical realism
- environmental metaphor
Key Concepts
mythic creatures
environmental impact
resource depletion
Questions to Reflect On
- What hidden costs do we ignore in pursuit of wonder?
- How does relentless motion affect the environment?
A Different Perspective
The spell's duration may cause self-destruction.
