Thomas Keneally · 178 pages
Rating: (1.3K votes)
“In the mind of a true snob there are certain limited criteria to denote the value of human existence. Jimmie's criteria were: home, hearth, wife, land. Those who possessed these had beatitude unchallengable. Other men had accidental, random life. Nothing better.”
― Thomas Keneally, quote from The Chant of Jimmie Blacksmith
“Coitus is random, children are definite.”
― Thomas Keneally, quote from The Chant of Jimmie Blacksmith
“The truest crime remaining to him to commit was the waste of love. It should be bequeathed, as land is.”
― Thomas Keneally, quote from The Chant of Jimmie Blacksmith
“She yawns for men and not with her mouth. She weeps for men and not with her eyes. She drinks men down, she is a cave for me.”
― Thomas Keneally, quote from The Chant of Jimmie Blacksmith
“She yawns for men and not with her mouth. She weeps for men and not with her eyes. She drinks men down, she is a cave for men.”
― Thomas Keneally, quote from The Chant of Jimmie Blacksmith
“Lower ways of life give way to higher.”
― Thomas Keneally, quote from The Chant of Jimmie Blacksmith
“Some days passed before I could rid my thoughts of Thecla of certain impressions belonging to the false Thecla who had initiated me into the anacreontic diversions and fruitions of men and women. Possibly this had an effect opposite to that Master Gurloes intended, but I do not think so. I believe I was never less inclined to love the unfortunate woman than when I carried in my memory the recent impressions of having enjoyed her freely; it was as I saw it more and more clearly for the untruth it was that I felt myself drawn to redress the fact, and drawn through her (though I was hardly conscious of it at the time) to the world of ancient knowledge an privilege she represented. The books I has carried to her became my university, she my oracle.”
― Gene Wolfe, quote from Shadow & Claw
“It demeans you to cover rotten meat with honey. I know what I am. What would you want with a monster?"
"Everything.”
― Holly Black, quote from Valiant
“Stop that, I told my brain.
Also, the wedding is tomorrow, said my brain.
Get out of my head.
My brain refused to get out of my head. Inconsiderate brain.”
― Rick Riordan, quote from The Hammer of Thor
“a royal bride could come to enjoy considerable power and influence, as did both Katherine of Aragon and Anne Boleyn. Yet such status and power emanated solely from her husband. She enjoyed no freedoms but those he permitted her. Without him, she was nothing. Queens”
― Alison Weir, quote from The Six Wives of Henry VIII
“Therefore, dear Sir, love your solitude and try to sing out with the pain it causes you. For those who are near you are far away... and this shows that the space around you is beginning to grow vast.... be happy about your growth, in which of course you can't take anyone with you, and be gentle with those who stay behind; be confident and calm in front of them and don't torment them with your doubts and don't frighten them with your faith or joy, which they wouldn't be able to comprehend. Seek out some simple and true feeling of what you have in common with them, which doesn't necessarily have to alter when you yourself change again and again; when you see them, love life in a form that is not your own and be indulgent toward those who are growing old, who are afraid of the aloneness that you trust.... and don't expect any understanding; but believe in a love that is being stored up for you like an inheritance, and have faith that in this love there is a strength and a blessing so large that you can travel as far as you wish without having to step outside it.”
― Rainer Maria Rilke, quote from Letters to a Young Poet
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