“Great discoveries, Ganapathi, are often the result of making the wrong mistake at the right time.”
“They say every dog has its day, Ganapathi, but for this terrier twilight came before tea-time.”
“While he was alive, he was impossible to ignore; once he had gone, he was impossible to imitate.”
“...(It) is to one British colonial policy-maker or another that we owe the Boxer Rebellion, the Mau Mau insurrection, the Boer War, and the Boston Tea Party”
“All knowledge is transient, linked to the world around it and subject to change as the world changes.”
“If ever the Empire comes to ruin, Heaslop, mark my words, the British publisher will be to blame.”
“In debate he thought high and aimed low.”
“Gangaji’s truth required activism, not passivity.”
“The past is not necessarily a guide to the future, but it does partly help explain the present.”
“He leaned towards the young man, his eyes, mouth and face all round in concentration. ‘“There was a banned crow,”’ he intoned sonorously. ‘“There was a cold day.” Not bad, eh? I learned those on the boat. Sounds like perfect Urdu, I’m told.’ He paused and frowned. ‘The devil of it is remembering which one means, “close the door,” and which one will get someone to open it.”
“India is not an underdeveloped country but a highly developed one in an advanced state of decay.”
“The principles he stood for and the way in which he asserted them were always easier to admire than to follow.”
“While he was alive, he was impossible to ignore; once he had gone, he was impossible to imitate. When”
“If you believed in truth and cared enough to obtain it, Ganga affirmed, you had to be prepared actively to suffer for it. It was essential to accept punishment willingly in order to demonstrate the strength of one’s convictions. That”
“Basic truth about the colonies, Heaslop. Any time there’s trouble, you can put it down to books. Too many of the wrong ideas getting into the heads of the wrong sorts of people. If ever the Empire comes to ruin, Heaslop, mark my words, the British publisher will be to blame.”
“Bengalis say when offered cod, we still have other fish to fry.”
“there is nothing restrictive or self-limiting about the Indian identity it reasserts: it is large, eclectic and flexible, containing multitudes. I”
“الأم: - علام تعتمد عجوز مثلي في حزنها إذا انتزعتم الله منها؟ا
بول: -انك لم تفهمينا يا اماه.
ريبين: -سامحيني ايتها الأم، فلقد نسيت انك طعنت في السن لدرجة لا نستطيع معها اجتثاث ثآليلك.
بول: -لم اكن اتحدث عن الله الطيب الرحيم الذي تؤمنون به، بل عن الله الذي يهددنا به الكهنة، كما لو كانوا يهددونا بعصا؛ عن إله يراد باسمه ان يخضع العالم كله للإراده القاسية، إراده البعض
ريبين: -لقد زيفوا لنا حتى الله و سخروا ضدنا كل ما في ايديهم، أتذكرين ايتها الأم؟ لقد خلق الانسان على شاكلته، على صورته، اذا فهو يشبه الانسان اذا شابهه الانسان، و لكننا لا نشبه الله، بل نشبه الوحوش الضارية. انهم يظهرونه لنا في الكنيسة على شكل فزاعة. لذا ينبغي ان نطور الله ، ايتها الأم، ينبغي ان نطهره، فلقد البسوه ثوبا من الكذب و النميمة و شوهوا وجهه ليقتلوا روحنا”
“All men are liars. All women are liars, too.”
“She didnt see the point of alcohol, or drugs. People had little enough control over their lives without losing more.”
“Every twenty years or so the earth renews itself in young maidens. You know what I mean? Her cheeks had the perfect form that belongs to the young; her hair was kinky gold. Her teeth were white and posted on every approach. She was all sweet corn and milk. Blessings on her hips. Blessings on her thighs. Blessings on her soft little fingers which were somewhat covered by the cuffs of her uniform. Blessings on that rough gold. A wonderful little thing; her attitude was that of a pal or playmate, as is common with Midwestern young women”
“It was a great love," she said. "Don't let anyone tell you differently. Take good care of yourself. You'll be happy with someone else.”
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