Pessimism is just a higher form of optimism. If you expect the worst, you can be pleasantly surprised.
David Lodge – Changing Places
Expecting the Worst
E
Academic Readership
A
The campus novel is a product of the post-war boom in university education and the consequent rise of a large body of academic professional readers.
David Lodge – Changing Places
Masterpiece Creation
M
The true function of a writer is to produce a masterpiece and no other task is of any consequence.
David Lodge – Changing Places
Commandments vs Suggestions
C
If God had been a liberal, we wouldn’t have had the Ten Commandments – we’d have the Ten Suggestions.
David Lodge – Changing Places
Irony and Stupidity
I
Irony is wasted on the stupid.
David Lodge – Changing Places
Link in Separation
L
Every separation is a link.
David Lodge – Changing Places
Work-Life Balance
W
Beware of letting your professional deformation become your private obsession.
David Lodge – Changing Places
Recycling Clothes
R
I always think it’s very interesting to know what one’s old clothes have been turned into.
Barbara Pym – Excellent Women
Mundane Challenges
M
Life was like that for most of us, the small unpleasantness rather than the great tragedies; the little useless longings rather than the great renunciations and dramatic love affairs of history or fiction.
Barbara Pym – Excellent Women
Excessive Hospitality
E
Perhaps there can be too much making of cups of tea…
Barbara Pym – Excellent Women