How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #1
The key, Gansey found, was that you had to believe that they existed; you had to realize that you were part of something bigger. Some secrets only gave themselves up to those who'd proven themselves worthy.
The way Gansey saw it was this: If you had a special knack for finding things, it meant you owed the world to look. (2.62-63)
Gansey doesn't have to go out looking for dead Welsh kings to be successful… after all, he comes from a rich family and could just coast. But he knows that he has a gift for finding strange things, and he needs to make the most out of that gift.
Quote #2
"I don't want to do this for another year." He kicked a piece of gravel under the Camaro. Now his voice did rise, but only in ferocity, not in volume. "Another year, and then I get strangled with a necktie like Declan? I'm not a damn politician, Gansey. I'm not a banker."
Gansey wasn't either, but it didn't mean he wanted to leave school. The pain in Ronan's voice meant he couldn't have any in his way when he said, "Just graduate, and do whatever you want." (7.74-75)
Ronan acts like he has no control over his life because Declan controls the family purse strings, but this isn't the case. He does have a choice: He can suck it up for another year, collect his inheritance, and do whatever he wants. Or not.
Quote #3
But she asked, "And what is it you wanted to do?"
"Talk," he said. In his local accent, it was a long word and it seemed less of a synonym for speak than it was for confess. She couldn't help but look at the thin, pleasant line of his mouth. He added, "I guess I could have just saved a lot of trouble by coming up to talk to you in the first place. Other people's ideas always seem to get me into more trouble." (8.17-18)
Okay, so Adam kind of messed up when he made the choice to have Gansey try to pick up Blue on his behalf. Gansey is not the best wingman in the world, and Adam probably would have had a better shot if he'd just done the flirting himself.
Quote #4
Blue had two rules: Stay away from boys, because they're trouble, and stay away from raven boys, because they were bastards.
But those rules didn't seem to apply to Adam. Fumbling in her pocket, she pulled out a tissue and wrote her name and the phone number for 300 Fox Way on it. Heart thumping, she folded it up and handed it to him.
Adam said only, "I'm glad I came back." (8.29-31)
Well, it didn't take Blue that long to break both of her rules concerning boys. Adam intrigues her enough, though, and she hands him her phone number. How's a teenage girl supposed to resist the advances of a cute, earnest boy, anyway?
Quote #5
This was a conversation they'd had before and entire days of arguments were replayed in the few moments of quiet. The words had been said often enough that they didn't need to be said again. Success meant nothing to Adam if he hadn't done it for himself.
Gansey tried his best to keep his voice even, but a bit of the heat crept in. "So you won't leave because of your pride? He'll kill you." (14.49-50)
To Gansey, moving away from the Parrish household is the obvious choice. Adam's dad is awful and abusive, and it should be easy for him to leave it all behind, right? But it's not that simple of a choice for Adam to make.
Quote #6
Then Blue had bought her own chips, though it was clear the price was dear to her and nothing to Gansey. Adam was proud of her. (25.12)
Blue could have easily accepted money and food from any of the raven boys, since they're all super rich (except for Adam). But she's got her pride to consider, just like Adam. They may both be poor, but they're not leeches.
Quote #7
The problem was that she was running distinctly low on money, and moreover, guilt at disobeying Maura was finally beginning to weigh on her. It had gotten so bad that she couldn't look her mother in the eye over dinner, but it was impossible, now, to imagine giving up the boys. She had to find a way to reconcile the two. (27.1)
Blue made the choice to disobey her mom without a second thought, but now she's starting to feel badly about her decision. She doesn't want to be a bad daughter. She's got to find a way to stay true to herself and still be honest with her mom. That's the adult way to go about things.
Quote #8
Blue wasn't sure how to reply to this. Maura had all sorts of control of Blue, but it wasn't usually the sort that came with ultimatums or curfews. So she just said, "I'm sorry. I should've told you I was going to do what you didn't want me to do." (27.54)
Well at least Blue's being truthful. She is sorry that she lied, but she's not going to stop doing what she's been doing. Maura's just going to have to accept that apology; it's the best she's going to get.
Quote #9
"Oh no," he said. He hoped Ronan was listening. "Ronan did that all by himself. I don't know when you both are going to see that only Ronan can keep himself in Aglionby. Some day, he has to pick for himself. Until then, you're both wasting your time. (31.25)
Why do Declan and Ronan both think that it's Gansey's job to keep Ronan in school? It's not like he can do all the schoolwork and go to Ronan's classes for him. It's Ronan's job to take care of Ronan's life.
Quote #10
He closed his eyes. He couldn't look at her and say it. Even with his eyes closed, he felt like he was falling, like the horizon pitched, like his head tilted. Adam had the sick feeling that his father had managed to knock something crucial askew.
And then he said what he couldn't say before. He asked, "Can I… can I press charges?" (36.84-85)
Adam pressing charges against his dad isn't an easy choice to make—as soon as he does this, he'll never have a home with his family again. They weren't the best family (to put it lightly), but they're all the family that he had.