The Golden Compass Quotes

Find the perfect quote to float your boat. Shmoop breaks down key quotations from The Golden Compass.

Innocence Quotes

"No, no, that's the saddest thing: she will be the betrayer, and the experience will be terrible. She mustn't know that, of course, but there's no reason for her not to know about the problem of Du...

Morality and Ethics Quotes

"I didn't have anything in mind, and well you know it," she snapped quietly. "But now I've seen what the Master did, I haven't got any choice. You're supposed to know about conscience, aren't you?...

Identity Quotes

She was a coarse and greedy little savage, for the most part. But she always had a dim sense that it wasn't her whole world; that part of her also belonged in the grandeur of Jordan College; and th...

Fate and Free Will Quotes

"Yes. Lyra has a part to play in all this, and a major one. The irony is that she must do it all without realizing what she's doing. She can be helped, though, and if my plan with the Tokay had suc...

Power Quotes

"Yes, here, man. And I shall need a screen and a projecting lantern, also here, also now." The Butler could hardly prevent himself from opening his mouth in surprise, but managed to suppress the qu...

Lies and Deceit Quotes

"What is it?" she said."It's an alethiometer. It's one of only six that were ever made. Lyra, I urge to again: keep it private. It would be better if Mrs. Coulter didn't know about it. Your uncle -...

Politics Quotes

It was said that the Tartars had invaded Muscovy, and were surging north to St. Petersburg, from where they would be able to dominate the Baltic Sea and eventually overcome the entire west of Europ...

Religion Quotes

Ever since Pope John Calvin had moved the seat of the Papacy to Geneva and set up the Consistorial Court of Discipline, the Church's power over every aspect of life had been absolute. The Papacy it...

Sacrifice Quotes

"No, no, that's the saddest thing: she will be the betrayer, and the experience will be terrible. She mustn't know that, of course, but there's no reason for her not to know about the problem of Du...