Authors: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

100 Best Cornelia Funke Quotes & Sayings

Famous As: German Author of Children's Fiction Best Known for Her Novels: ‘The Thief Lord’ and ‘Dragon Rider’
Born On: December 10, 1958
Born In: Dorsten, Germany
Age: 64 Years

Cornelia Funke is a German illustrator who writes fantasy books and novels for all ages. She is best known for the Inkheart Trilogy which was described as ‘delectably transfixing’ by the critics. For several years, Funke was known as the bestselling writer of children’s fiction until 2002, when she released her German book ‘Herr der Diebe’ (The Thief Lord) in the US. The book received an overwhelming response by the American audience. Soon, she became renowned as a multiple award-winning storyteller. Her other notable works include Inkspell, Dragon Writer and Kleiner Werwolf that fetched her several laurels and worldwide recognition. She won many prestigious prizes for her excellent penmanship including the 2008 Roswitha Prize, 2006 Booksense Book of the Year for Children’s Literature. She also received the Sakura Medal awarded by the Japanese international students group in 2006. Funke specializes in Adventure and Fantasy genres. Owing to her creative writing talents, most of her German works have now been translated into English. Till now, more than 20 million copies of her books have sold worldwide. The Time magazine listed her as the 100 most influential people of 2005. Funke inspires aspiring authors and readers to read, develop curiosity and explore the world around them. Her social works have a major influence on her writing style. We have curated a collection of Cornelia Funke’s best quotes through her writings and life. Here is a collection of some thought-provoking and relevant quotes by Cornelia Funke.

Listed In:
Stories never really end...even if the books like to pretend they do. Stories always go on. They don't end on the last page, any more than they begin on the first page.

Stories never really end...even if the books like to pretend they do. Stories always go on. They don't end on the last page, any more than they begin on the first page.

Cornelia Funke
Books have to be heavy because the whole world's inside them.

Books have to be heavy because the whole world's inside them.

Cornelia Funke
So what? All writers are lunatics!

So what? All writers are lunatics!

Cornelia Funke
Which of us has not felt that the character we are reading in the printed page is more real than the person standing beside us?

Which of us has not felt that the character we are reading in the printed page is more real than the person standing beside us?

Cornelia Funke
Because fear kills everything,

Because fear kills everything," Mo had once told her. "Your mind, your heart, your imagination.

Cornelia Funke
This book taught me, once and for all, how easily you can escape this world with the help of words! You can find friends between the pages of a book, wonderful friends.

This book taught me, once and for all, how easily you can escape this world with the help of words! You can find friends between the pages of a book, wonderful friends.

Cornelia Funke
Books loved anyone who opened them, they gave you secruity and friendship and didn't ask for anything in return; they never went away, never, not even when you treated them badly.

Books loved anyone who opened them, they gave you secruity and friendship and didn't ask for anything in return; they never went away, never, not even when you treated them badly.

Cornelia Funke
It's a good idea to have your own books with you in a strange place

It's a good idea to have your own books with you in a strange place

Cornelia Funke
Women were different, no doubt about it. Men broke so much more quickly. Grief didn't break women. Instead it wore them down, it hollowed them out very slowly.

Women were different, no doubt about it. Men broke so much more quickly. Grief didn't break women. Instead it wore them down, it hollowed them out very slowly.

Cornelia Funke
The sea always filled her with longing, though for what she was never sure.

The sea always filled her with longing, though for what she was never sure.

Cornelia Funke
Sometimes, when you're so sad you don't know what to do, it helps to be angry.

Sometimes, when you're so sad you don't know what to do, it helps to be angry.

Cornelia Funke
Writing stories is a kind of magic, too.

Writing stories is a kind of magic, too.

Cornelia Funke
You know a great many things in dreams, often despite the evidence of your eyes. You just know them.

You know a great many things in dreams, often despite the evidence of your eyes. You just know them.

Cornelia Funke
Sometimes it's a good thing we don't remember things half as well as books do.

Sometimes it's a good thing we don't remember things half as well as books do.

Cornelia Funke
Dustfinger still clearly remembered the feeling of being in love for the first time. How vulnerable his heart had suddenly been! Such a trembling, quivering thing, happy and miserably unhappy at once.

Dustfinger still clearly remembered the feeling of being in love for the first time. How vulnerable his heart had suddenly been! Such a trembling, quivering thing, happy and miserably unhappy at once.

Cornelia Funke
When you open a book it's like going to the theater first you see the curtain then it is pulled aside and the show begins.

When you open a book it's like going to the theater first you see the curtain then it is pulled aside and the show begins.

Cornelia Funke
Nothing is more frightening than a fear you cannot name.

Nothing is more frightening than a fear you cannot name.

Cornelia Funke
Fire and water,

Fire and water," he said, "don't really mix. You could say they're incompatible. But when they do love each other, they love passionately.

Cornelia Funke
Hope. Nothing is more intoxicating.

Hope. Nothing is more intoxicating.

Cornelia Funke
A reader doesn't really see the characters in a story; he feels them.

A reader doesn't really see the characters in a story; he feels them.

Cornelia Funke
I prefer a story that has the good sense to stay on the page where it belongs.
- Elinor

I prefer a story that has the good sense to stay on the page where it belongs. - Elinor

Cornelia Funke
A book always keeps something of its owner between its pages.

A book always keeps something of its owner between its pages.

Cornelia Funke
Nothing is more terrifying than fearlessness.

Nothing is more terrifying than fearlessness.

Cornelia Funke
Mo could paint pictures in the empty air with his voice alone.

Mo could paint pictures in the empty air with his voice alone.

Cornelia Funke
You know what they say: When people start burning books they'll soon burn human beings.

You know what they say: When people start burning books they'll soon burn human beings.

Cornelia Funke
All writers are insane!

All writers are insane!

Cornelia Funke
My children were all made from paper and printer's ink...

My children were all made from paper and printer's ink...

Cornelia Funke
I wish you luck,' she said, kissing him on the cheek. He still had the most beautiful eyes of any boy she'd ever seen. But now her heart beat so much faster for someone else.

I wish you luck,' she said, kissing him on the cheek. He still had the most beautiful eyes of any boy she'd ever seen. But now her heart beat so much faster for someone else.

Cornelia Funke
Why did death make life taste so much sweeter? Why could the heart love only what it could also lose?

Why did death make life taste so much sweeter? Why could the heart love only what it could also lose?

Cornelia Funke
There could be few men whose love for a woman had been written on his face with a knife.

There could be few men whose love for a woman had been written on his face with a knife.

Cornelia Funke
Life was more difficult in Inkheart, yet it seemed to Meggie that with every new day Fenoglio's story was spinning a magic spell around her heart, sticky as a spider's web and enchantingly beautiful..

Life was more difficult in Inkheart, yet it seemed to Meggie that with every new day Fenoglio's story was spinning a magic spell around her heart, sticky as a spider's web and enchantingly beautiful..

Cornelia Funke
In love - it sounded like a sickness without any cure, and wasn't that just how it sometimes felt?

In love - it sounded like a sickness without any cure, and wasn't that just how it sometimes felt?

Cornelia Funke
If you keep pretending you're in that book, it will make you not want to live in the life you're in.

If you keep pretending you're in that book, it will make you not want to live in the life you're in.

Cornelia Funke
Books are like flypaper, memories cling to the printed pages better than anything else.

Books are like flypaper, memories cling to the printed pages better than anything else.

Cornelia Funke
Weren’t all books ultimately related? After all, the same letters filled them, just arranged in a different order. Which meant that, in a certain way, every book was contained in every other!

Weren’t all books ultimately related? After all, the same letters filled them, just arranged in a different order. Which meant that, in a certain way, every book was contained in every other!

Cornelia Funke
Sometimes, when you’re sad you don’t know what to do, it helps to be angry. But then the tears come back again all the same, and you fall asleep with the salty taste of them on your lips.

Sometimes, when you’re sad you don’t know what to do, it helps to be angry. But then the tears come back again all the same, and you fall asleep with the salty taste of them on your lips.

Cornelia Funke
The book she had been reading was under her pillow, pressing its cover against her ear as if to lure her back into its printed pages.

The book she had been reading was under her pillow, pressing its cover against her ear as if to lure her back into its printed pages.

Cornelia Funke
Read – and be curious. And if somebody says to you: 'Things are this way. You can't change it' - don't believe a word.

Read – and be curious. And if somebody says to you: 'Things are this way. You can't change it' - don't believe a word.

Cornelia Funke
Children are caterpillars and adults are butterflies. No butterfly ever remembers what it felt like being a caterpillar.

Children are caterpillars and adults are butterflies. No butterfly ever remembers what it felt like being a caterpillar.

Cornelia Funke
It [the book] was spinning a magic spell around her heart, sticky as a spider's web and enchantingly beautiful..

It [the book] was spinning a magic spell around her heart, sticky as a spider's web and enchantingly beautiful..

Cornelia Funke
You are crazy!

You are crazy!" whispered Meggie. "You're a total lunatic!" But her opinion did not impress Fenoglio in the slightest. "So what? All writers are lunatics!

Cornelia Funke
She read and read and read, but she was stuffing herself with the letters on the page like an unhappy child stuffing itself with chocolate. They didn’t taste bad, but she was still unhappy.

She read and read and read, but she was stuffing herself with the letters on the page like an unhappy child stuffing itself with chocolate. They didn’t taste bad, but she was still unhappy.

Cornelia Funke
The truth's not pretty of course. No one likes to look it in the face.

The truth's not pretty of course. No one likes to look it in the face.

Cornelia Funke
Perhaps because this time not fear but love made him read.

Perhaps because this time not fear but love made him read.

Cornelia Funke
Why do grown-ups think it's easier for children to bear secrets than the truth? Don't they know about the horror stories we imagine to explain the secrets?

Why do grown-ups think it's easier for children to bear secrets than the truth? Don't they know about the horror stories we imagine to explain the secrets?

Cornelia Funke
The night swallowed him up like a thieving fox.

The night swallowed him up like a thieving fox.

Cornelia Funke
-You forgot something important!
-What?
-It's under my sweater!
-WHAT?!
-Me!

-You forgot something important! -What? -It's under my sweater! -WHAT?! -Me!

Cornelia Funke
We're all liars when it serves our purpose.

We're all liars when it serves our purpose.

Cornelia Funke
Some books should be tasted,some devoured but only few should be chewed and digested thouroughly

Some books should be tasted,some devoured but only few should be chewed and digested thouroughly

Cornelia Funke
Please,

Please," she whispered as she opened the book, "please get me out of here just for an hour or so, please take me far, far away

Cornelia Funke
Believe me. Sometimes when life looks to be at its grimmest, there's a light hidden at the heart of things.
Clive Barker, Abarat

Believe me. Sometimes when life looks to be at its grimmest, there's a light hidden at the heart of things. Clive Barker, Abarat

Cornelia Funke
Didn't books say that too: that there is always price to pay for happiness?

Didn't books say that too: that there is always price to pay for happiness?

Cornelia Funke
Down there the nights are bright and nobody believes in the Devil.

Down there the nights are bright and nobody believes in the Devil.

Cornelia Funke
The spoken word is nothing. It hardly lives longer than an insect! Only the written word is eternal. - Balbulus

The spoken word is nothing. It hardly lives longer than an insect! Only the written word is eternal. - Balbulus

Cornelia Funke
Dustfinger closed his eyes and listened.
He was home again.

Dustfinger closed his eyes and listened. He was home again.

Cornelia Funke
What are stories for if we don't learn from them?

What are stories for if we don't learn from them?

Cornelia Funke
Reality is a fragile thing.

Reality is a fragile thing.

Cornelia Funke
Why would we ever want to go back when your world is so accommodating with your telephones and your guns and what's that sticky stuff called ...duct tape.

Why would we ever want to go back when your world is so accommodating with your telephones and your guns and what's that sticky stuff called ...duct tape.

Cornelia Funke
Words are immortal - Elinor

Words are immortal - Elinor

Cornelia Funke
She is a real bookworm. I think she lives on print. Her whole house is full of books - looks as if she likes them better than human company.

She is a real bookworm. I think she lives on print. Her whole house is full of books - looks as if she likes them better than human company.

Cornelia Funke
Nobody loves only once.

Nobody loves only once.

Cornelia Funke
Thats beautiful! Sad and beautiful,

Thats beautiful! Sad and beautiful," murmured Meggie. Why were sad stories often so beautiful? It was different in real life.

Cornelia Funke
Stories never really end, Meggie, even if the books like to pretend they do. Stories always go on. They don't end on the last page, any more than they begin on the first page.

Stories never really end, Meggie, even if the books like to pretend they do. Stories always go on. They don't end on the last page, any more than they begin on the first page.

Cornelia Funke
Farid had brought an invisible guest with him.
Fear.

Farid had brought an invisible guest with him. Fear.

Cornelia Funke
They wouldn't tell Scipio how much of the counterfeit cash was left since, as Riccio put it, 'You're a detective now, after all.

They wouldn't tell Scipio how much of the counterfeit cash was left since, as Riccio put it, 'You're a detective now, after all.

Cornelia Funke
What's that sticky stuff called?

Basta: Duct tape. 
Yes, duct tape. I love duct tape.

What's that sticky stuff called? Basta: Duct tape. Yes, duct tape. I love duct tape.

Cornelia Funke
Nothing chased nightmares away faster than the rustle of printed paper.

Nothing chased nightmares away faster than the rustle of printed paper.

Cornelia Funke
Beauty and fear make uneasy companions

Beauty and fear make uneasy companions

Cornelia Funke
Don't let it worry you, not being able to speak,'Dustfinger had often told her. 'People tend not to listen anyway, right?

Don't let it worry you, not being able to speak,'Dustfinger had often told her. 'People tend not to listen anyway, right?

Cornelia Funke
Killing is easy,

Killing is easy," said Mo, "Dying is harder...

Cornelia Funke
He longed for the deep as she longed for the night sky and for white lilies floating on water -- although she still tried to convince herself that love alone could feed her soul.

He longed for the deep as she longed for the night sky and for white lilies floating on water -- although she still tried to convince herself that love alone could feed her soul.

Cornelia Funke
My dear Elinor, you were obviously born into the wrong story,” said Dustfinger at last.

My dear Elinor, you were obviously born into the wrong story,” said Dustfinger at last.

Cornelia Funke
Believe, believe, believe

Believe, believe, believe

Cornelia Funke
I remember the feeling. Whenever my father got so absorbed in a book that we might have been in visible I felt like taking a pair of scissors and cutting it up.

I remember the feeling. Whenever my father got so absorbed in a book that we might have been in visible I felt like taking a pair of scissors and cutting it up.

Cornelia Funke
Let's be off before he gets his great horsey teeth into my poor lines of verse!

Let's be off before he gets his great horsey teeth into my poor lines of verse!

Cornelia Funke
As Mo had said: writing stories is a kind of magic, too.

As Mo had said: writing stories is a kind of magic, too.

Cornelia Funke
She had found him and was bringing back his thanks. Nor did she forget to mention that he had assured her that she was indeed the most beautiful fairy he had ever set eyes on.

She had found him and was bringing back his thanks. Nor did she forget to mention that he had assured her that she was indeed the most beautiful fairy he had ever set eyes on.

Cornelia Funke
He wants to be grown-up. How different dreams can be! Nature will soon grant your wish.

He wants to be grown-up. How different dreams can be! Nature will soon grant your wish.

Cornelia Funke
Since when does the butterfly ask about the caterpillar?

Since when does the butterfly ask about the caterpillar?

Cornelia Funke
Let's run away to Venice, and hide out in an old movie theater. We can dye our hair blonde, so no one will ever find us!

Let's run away to Venice, and hide out in an old movie theater. We can dye our hair blonde, so no one will ever find us!

Cornelia Funke
But after all, the villains are the salt in the soup of a story.

But after all, the villains are the salt in the soup of a story.

Cornelia Funke
Yes, I do enjoy walking at night. The world’s more to my liking then, not so loud, not so fast, not so crowded, and a good deal more mysterious.

Yes, I do enjoy walking at night. The world’s more to my liking then, not so loud, not so fast, not so crowded, and a good deal more mysterious.

Cornelia Funke
The night belongs to beasts of prey, and always has. It's easy to forget that when you're indoors, protected by light and solid walls.

The night belongs to beasts of prey, and always has. It's easy to forget that when you're indoors, protected by light and solid walls.

Cornelia Funke
I'm perfectly happy to know the world at secondhand. It's a lot safer.

I'm perfectly happy to know the world at secondhand. It's a lot safer.

Cornelia Funke
When the heart craved something so forcefully, then reason became nothing but helpless observer.

When the heart craved something so forcefully, then reason became nothing but helpless observer.

Cornelia Funke
Writing stories is a type of magic too.

Writing stories is a type of magic too.

Cornelia Funke
How fast the ears learned to tell what sounds meant, much faster than it took the eyes to decipher written words.

How fast the ears learned to tell what sounds meant, much faster than it took the eyes to decipher written words.

Cornelia Funke
Perhaps the story in the book is just the lid on a pan: It always stays the same, but underneath there's a whole world that goes on - developing and changing like our own world.

Perhaps the story in the book is just the lid on a pan: It always stays the same, but underneath there's a whole world that goes on - developing and changing like our own world.

Cornelia Funke
Everyone is small at night.

Everyone is small at night.

Cornelia Funke
It's a cruel world, don't you think?

It's a cruel world, don't you think?

Cornelia Funke
It's the same in real life: Notorious murderers get off scot-free and live happily all their lives, while good people die - sometimes the very best people. That's the way of the world.

It's the same in real life: Notorious murderers get off scot-free and live happily all their lives, while good people die - sometimes the very best people. That's the way of the world.

Cornelia Funke
Quite suddenly Meggie felt fear rise in her like black brackish water, she felt lost, terribly lost, she felt it in every part of her. She didn't belong here! What had she done?

Quite suddenly Meggie felt fear rise in her like black brackish water, she felt lost, terribly lost, she felt it in every part of her. She didn't belong here! What had she done?

Cornelia Funke
Words,words filled the night like the fragrance of invisible flowers.

Words,words filled the night like the fragrance of invisible flowers.

Cornelia Funke
A story is a labyrinth, it looks as if there were several ways to go, but only one is right, and there's a nasty surprise ready to punish you for every false step.

A story is a labyrinth, it looks as if there were several ways to go, but only one is right, and there's a nasty surprise ready to punish you for every false step.

Cornelia Funke
She pressed her hand against her chest. No heart. So where did the love she felt come from?

She pressed her hand against her chest. No heart. So where did the love she felt come from?

Cornelia Funke
With every new day, Fenoglio's story was spinning a magic spell around her heart, sticky as spider's webs and enchantingly beautiful

With every new day, Fenoglio's story was spinning a magic spell around her heart, sticky as spider's webs and enchantingly beautiful

Cornelia Funke
The Fairy's dress rustled as she turned. Human women dressed like flowers, layers of petals around a mortal, rotting core.

The Fairy's dress rustled as she turned. Human women dressed like flowers, layers of petals around a mortal, rotting core.

Cornelia Funke
Hey, don't take this the wrong way, but don't come back, ok?

Hey, don't take this the wrong way, but don't come back, ok?

Cornelia Funke
Many [book] even lay flat in the floor open. Their spines upward. Elinor couldn't bear to look! Didn't the monster know that was the way to break a book's neck?

Many [book] even lay flat in the floor open. Their spines upward. Elinor couldn't bear to look! Didn't the monster know that was the way to break a book's neck?

Cornelia Funke
We all know what fun it can be to get right into a book and live there for a while, but falling out of a story and suddenly finding yourself in this world doesn't seem to be much fun at all.

We all know what fun it can be to get right into a book and live there for a while, but falling out of a story and suddenly finding yourself in this world doesn't seem to be much fun at all.

Cornelia Funke