Quotes for ECHO's 15th anniversary!

Today (September 22) is the 15th anniversary of the publication of Diana Gabaldon's novel AN ECHO IN THE BONE, Book 7 in the OUTLANDER series! Really hard to believe it's been that long! In honor of the occasion, here are some of my favorite quotes from ECHO. Hope you enjoy them!

All of the quotes below are taken from AN ECHO IN THE BONE by Diana Gabaldon. Copyright © 2009 by Diana Gabaldon. All rights reserved.

* * * SPOILER WARNING!! * * *

If you haven't read AN ECHO IN THE BONE, you will find MAJOR SPOILERS below! Read at your own risk.

“[The] advertisement I replied to was for plant inspector, and that’s the position I’m applying for.”

“But … my dear …” He was shaking his head, clearly appalled. “You’re a woman!”

“I am,” she said, and any of a hundred men who’d known her father would have picked up the ring of steel in her voice and given in on the spot. Mr. Campbell unfortunately hadn’t known Jamie Fraser--but was about to be enlightened. “Would you care to explain to me exactly which aspects of plant inspection require a penis?”

(Chapter 16, "Unarmed Conflict")

I love this scene. Go Bree!

“For a long time,” [Fergus] said at last, “when I was small, I pretended to myself that I was the bastard of some great man. All orphans do this, I think,” he added dispassionately. “It makes life easier to bear, to pretend that it will not always be as it is, that someone will come and restore you to your rightful place in the world.”

He shrugged.

“Then I grew older, and knew this was not true. No one would come to rescue me. But then--” He turned his head and gave Jamie a smile of surpassing sweetness. “Then I grew older still, and discovered that, after all, it was true. I am the son of a great man."

The hook touched Jamie’s hand, hard and capable.

“I wish for nothing more.”

(Chapter 18, "Pulling Teeth")

One of the best Fergus moments in the entire series. Just wonderful!

I had picked up Jamie’s sword before. It was a cavalry sword, larger and heavier than the usual, but I didn’t notice now.

I snatched it up and swung it in a two-handed arc that ripped the air and left the metal ringing in my hands.

Mother and son jumped back, identical looks of ludicrous surprise on their round, grimy faces.

“Get away!” I said.

Her mouth opened, but she didn’t say anything.

“I’m sorry for your man,” I said. “But my man lies here. Get away, I said!” I raised the sword, and the woman stepped back hastily, dragging the boy by the arm.

(Chapter 62, "One Just Man")

I love this whole scene. One of my favorite Claire moments of the entire series.

“Ever heard of coup de foudre, Sassenach? It didna take me more than one good look at you.”

(Chapter 68, "Despoiler")

This is a terrific line. I hadn't heard the term before I read ECHO, but having looked up the definition, now I'm sure I won't ever forget it. Boy, is that ever appropriate!

“Have ye ever been in the slightest doubt that I need ye?” he demanded.

It took roughly half a second of thought to answer this.

“No,” I replied promptly. “To the best of my knowledge, you needed me urgently the moment I saw you. And I haven’t had reason to think you’ve got any more self-sufficient since."

(Chapter 79, "The Cave")

This bit always makes me laugh.

"[Ye] couldna weep for the bairns. Or the house. Or your wee garden. Or the poor dead lass and her bairn. But if ye weep for your cheetie, ye know ye can stop.”

“How do you know that?” My voice was thick, but the band round my chest was not quite so tight.

He made a small, rueful sound.

“Because I canna weep for those things, either, Sassenach. And I havena got a cat.”

I sniffled, wiped my face one last time, and blew my nose before giving him back the handkerchief, which he stuffed into his sporran without grimace or thought.

Lord, he’d said. Let me be enough. That prayer had lodged in my heart like an arrow when I’d heard it and thought he asked for help in doing what had to be done. But that wasn’t what he’d meant at all--and the realization of what he had meant split my heart in two.

I took his face between my hands, and wished so much that I had his own gift, the ability to say what lay in my heart, in such a way that he would know. But I hadn’t.

“Jamie,” I said at last. “Oh, Jamie. You’re … everything. Always.”

(Chapter 12, "Enough")

Such a wonderful scene! Here's a video of Diana Gabaldon reading this chapter at an appearance in Germany in 2010.

“Where d’ye think he is now?” Jenny said suddenly. “Ian, I mean.”

He glanced at the house, then at the new grave waiting, but of course that wasn’t Ian anymore. He was panicked for a moment, his earlier emptiness returning--but then it came to him, and, without surprise, he knew what it was Ian had said to him.

“On your right, man.” On his right. Guarding his weak side.

“He’s just here,” he said to Jenny, nodding to the spot between them. “Where he belongs.”

(Chapter 84, "The Right of It")

I just love this bit, with the deliberate "echo" of Ian's line in DRAGONFLY, which has long been my favorite Ian quote of the whole series.

"Like forgiveness, it was not a thing once learned and then comfortably put aside but a matter of constant practice--to accept the notion of one’s own mortality, and yet live fully, was a paradox worthy of Socrates."

(Chapter 94, "The Paths of Death")

The theme of mortality runs through ECHO. I don't think it's stated as succinctly, or as eloquently, anywhere else in the book.

“Fuirich agus chi thu.”

“What?” He stared at me.

“Gaelic,” I said, with a small, deep twinge. “It means ‘Wait and see.’”

(Chapter 98, "Mischianza")

This one is an inside joke that many readers may not have understood. One of Diana Gabaldon's favorite phrases, in response to questions, is "Wait and see." Back in 2008, my friend Cathy MacGregor posted the Gaelic translation of this phrase on the Compuserve Books and Writers Community (now TheLitForum.com), which is the online forum where Diana hangs out. A number of us, including Diana, have been using "fuirich agus chi thu" in the discussions there ever since. I was delighted to see it in print!

[Lord John] took a deep breath, shut his eyes, and commended his soul to God.

“I have had carnal knowledge of your wife,” he blurted.

He had expected to die more or less instantaneously upon this utterance, but everything continued just as usual. Birds continued chirping in the trees, and the rip and slobber of the horses champing grass was the only sound above that of the rushing water. He opened one eye to find Jamie Fraser standing there regarding him, head to one side.

“Oh?” said Jamie curiously. “Why?”

(Chapter 101, "Redivivus")

I love John's reactions here. This was one of three cliffhangers at the end of ECHO, and the question of how Jamie would react to John's confession generated a great deal of speculation in the years before MOHB came out.

“Thee is a wolf, too, and I know it. But thee is my wolf, and best thee know that.”

(Chapter 103, "The Hour of the Wolf")

How wonderful for Ian that he's found a woman who loves and appreciates him for who he is! Rachel is a terrific character. I thought this was just the right note on which to end the book.

Hope you enjoyed this collection! What are your favorite scenes or moments from ECHO? Please leave a comment here or on my Outlandish Observations Facebook page.