The Cruel Prince by Holly Black is one of the popular fantasy novels of our time. it recounts a tale of ambition, betrayal, and the complexities of power. It delves into themes of identity, resilience, and the often brutal world of Faerie, where mortals must navigate treachery and temptation.
In today’s post, I am sharing some of the most memorable quotes from The Cruel Prince. These quotes capture the essence of the story and its characters—Jude’s fierce determination, Cardan’s biting wit, and the tension that drives the plot forward. I have verified these quotes to ensure their accuracy, and I hope they inspire you as much as they have intrigued me.
The Cruel Prince Quotes
1. “If I cannot be better than them, I will become so much worse.” (p. 156)
2. “He leans in and closes his eyes. “Most of all, I hate you because I think of you. Often. It’s disgusting, and I can’t stop.”
3. “Most of all, I hate you because I think of you. Often. It’s disgusting, and I can’t stop.”
4. ““Have I told you how hideous you look tonight?” Cardan asks, leaning back in the elaborately carved chair, the warmth of his words turning the question into something like a compliment.”
5. I look deep into his eyes as I sheathe my sword. “Father, I am what you made me. I’ve become your daughter after all.”
6. “My skin prickles. I don’t like this. But at least I know what to say. “If you hurt me, I wouldn’t cry. I would hurt you back.”
7. “What could I become if I stopped worrying about death, about pain, about anything? If I stopped trying to belong? Instead of being afraid, I could become something to fear.”
8. “There’s always something left to lose,” Vivi says, and then makes a hideous face at Oak. He giggles.”
9. “I am going to keep on defying you. I am going to shame you with my defiance. You remind me that I am a mere mortal and you are a prince of Faerie. Well, let me remind you that means you have much to lose and I have nothing. You may win in the end, you may ensorcell me and hurt me and humiliate me, but I will make sure you lose everything I can take from you on the way down. I promise you this”—I throw his own words back at him—“this is the least of what I can do.”
10. “I have lied and I have betrayed and I have triumphed. If only there was someone to congratulate me.”
11. “Desire is an odd thing. As soon as it’s sated, it transmutes. If we receive golden thread, we desire the golden needle. And so, Jude Duarte, I am asking you what you would want next if I made you part of my company.”
12. “The odd thing about ambition is this: You can acquire it like a fever, but it is not so easy to shed. Once, I was content to hope for knighthood and the power to force Cardan and his friends to leave me alone. All I wanted was to find some place to fit in here in Faerie.”
13. “Indeed,” says Madoc. “Let’s have a toast. To the incompetence of our enemies.”
I pick up my glass and knock it into Taryn’s, then drain it to the very dregs.”
14. “Because you’re like a story that hasn’t happened yet. Because I want to see what you will do. I want to be part of the unfolding of the tale.
15. “I wanted so badly to believe that being in Dain’s service was an honor, that he was someone worth following. That’s what comes of hungering for something: You forget to check if it’s rotten before you gobble it down. “Did you know it was Dain who poisoned Liriope?”
16. “But the question is so oddly phrased that I can hardly deny him. I love my parents’ murderer; I suppose I could love anyone. I’d like to love him.”
17. “What I feel is a kind of nervous adrenaline-soaked readiness. I seem to have passed some kind of threshold. Before, I never knew how far I would go. Now I believe I have the answer. I will go as far as there is to go. I will go way too far.”
18. “Dain’s expression is odd, blank. He takes a step back from me, as though I am the one who did the shocking thing instead of merely doing what he ordered. Then he clears his throat. “Do not reveal your skill with a blade,” he says. “Do not reveal your mastery over glamour. Do not reveal all that you can do. Show your power by appearing powerless. That is what I need from you.”
19. “We don’t need to be good,” I tell the Ghost. “But let’s try to be fair. As fair as any prince of Faerie.”
The Ghost smiles.
“And maybe a little fairer,” I say with a look at Cardan.
The Ghost nods. “I’d like that.”
20. “It will not end well,” Madoc says. “But I will not stand in front of your
happiness. I will not even stand in front of misery that you choose for yourself.”
Related: The Cruel Prince Summary, Characters, and Book Club Questions
Final thoughts
I hope you have found this collection of quotes from The Cruel Prince both insightful and inspiring. Each quote highlights the themes of ambition, power, and identity that make Holly Black’s novel so captivating. If you haven’t yet explored The Cruel Prince, let these quotes serve as a gateway into a tale filled with intrigue, danger, and unforgettable characters.
