Top 13 Quotes & Sayings by Rosemary Sutcliff

Explore popular quotes and sayings by an English novelist Rosemary Sutcliff.

Last updated on April 15, 2025.

Rosemary Sutcliff was an English novelist best known for children's books, especially historical fiction and retellings of myths and legends. Although she was primarily a children's author, some of her novels were specifically written for adults. In a 1986 interview she said, "I would claim that my books are for children of all ages, from nine to ninety."

English - Novelist | December 14, 1920 - July 23, 1992

Source: Wikipedia

I have a special "ah, here I am again, I know exactly what they are going to have for breakfast" feeling when I get back into Roman Britain, which is very nice.

Rosemary Sutcliff

And it came to Marcus suddenly that slaves very seldom whistled. They might sing, if they felt like it or if the rhythm helped their work, but whistling was in some way different; it took a free man to make the sort of noise Esca was making.

Rosemary Sutcliff

Better to be a laughing-stock than lose the fort for fear of being one.

Rosemary Sutcliff

I do not think that you can be changing the end of a song or a story like that, as though it were quite separate from the rest. I think the end of a story is part of it from the beginning.

Rosemary Sutcliff

Esca tossed the slender papyrus roll onto the cot, and set his own hands over Marcus's. "I have not served the Centurion because I was his slave," he said, dropping unconsciously into the speech of his own people. "I have served Marcus, and it was not slave-service...my stomach will be glad when we start on this hunting trail.

Rosemary Sutcliff

But tonight, because Rome had fallen and Felix was dead, because of Valerius’s shame, the empty hut seemed horribly lonely, and there was a small aching need in him for somebody to notice, even if they were not glad, that he had come home.

Rosemary Sutcliff

Why should a deserter take the trouble to light Rutupiae Beacon?” Aquila demanded, and his voice sounded rough in is own ears. “Maybe in farewell, maybe in defiance. Maybe to hold back the dark for one more night.

Rosemary Sutcliff

It may be that the night will close over us in the end, but I believe that morning will come again. Morning always grows out of the darkness, though maybe not for the people who saw the sun go down. We are the Lantern Bearers, my friend; for us to keep something burning, to carry what light we can forward into the darkness and the wind.

Rosemary Sutcliff

We shall have made such a blaze that men will remember us on the other side or the dark.

Rosemary Sutcliff

And what will they do to you when you have told them this story?' Esca said very simply, 'They will kill me.' 'I am sorry, but I do not think much of that plan.' Marcus said.

Rosemary Sutcliff

...extraordinarily beautiful, and slightly out of focus.

Rosemary Sutcliff

The young Centurion, who had been completely still throughout, said very softly, as though to himself, "Greater love hath no man--" and Justin thought it sounded as though he were quoting someone else.

Rosemary Sutcliff

When the playful me shows up, I am ready to be a serious learner … a culture of playfulness is closely related to the capacity to learn.

Rosemary Sutcliff