You can never have too many books, she said seriously. But where will you put them all?
Barbara Pym – Excellent Women
Book Collection
B
Alternative Pastimes
A
I had sometimes thought that having a baby might be a good way of making use of the long evenings.
Barbara Pym – Excellent Women
True Character
T
It’s so easy to get people to come out on a fine day, but of course the characters that really matter are the ones who come out when it’s raining.
Barbara Pym – Excellent Women
Appreciating Good Times
A
I don’t know that one wants to be too happy in this life. A little bit of worry or hardship, now and then, makes us appreciate the good times.
Barbara Pym – Excellent Women
Humorous Self-Reflection
H
We can always have lunch together and talk about my soul afterwards, but I warn you in advance that I haven’t got one.
Barbara Pym – Excellent Women
Reasons for Marriage
R
If I were to get married again, it would be for love, or it would be for friendship and companionship, certainly not for the cooking and housework.
Barbara Pym – Excellent Women
Explanation in Literature
E
Books say: She did this because. Life says: She did this. Books are where things are explained to you; life is where things aren’t.
Julian Barnes – Flaubert’s Parrot
Perspective on Definition
P
You can define a net two ways, depending on your point of view. Normally, you’d say it’s a thing made of string with holes in it; but turn it around and it’s a thing made of holes tied together with string.
Julian Barnes – Flaubert’s Parrot
National Integrity
N
The greatest patriotism is to tell your country when it is behaving dishonourably, foolishly, viciously.
Julian Barnes – Flaubert’s Parrot
Human Significance
H
Man is an animal suspended in webs of significance he himself has spun.
Julian Barnes – Flaubert’s Parrot