“I know what’s required. It’s perfectly simple: Justice.”
― Alan Bennett, quote from The Lady In The Van
“Good nature, or what is often considered as such, is the most selfish of all virtues: it is nine times out of ten mere indolence of disposition. William Hazlitt, ‘On the Knowledge of Character’ (1822)”
― Alan Bennett, quote from The Lady In The Van
“One seldom was able to do her a good turn without some thoughts of strangulation.”
― Alan Bennett, quote from The Lady In The Van
“Miss S. bevorzugte das pathetische Wort ‚land’ gegenüber dem üblichen ‚country’. ‚This land …’ In diesem Sinne gebraucht, ist es zwar nicht direkt die Sprache des Wahnsinns, aber doch der Besessenheit. Zeugen Jehovas sprechen ständig von ‚this land’, ebenso die National Front. Land ist gleich country plus Vorsehung – ein Land im Angesicht Gottes. Auch Mrs. Thatcher sagt ‚this land’.”
― Alan Bennett, quote from The Lady In The Van
“May 1976. I have had some manure delivered for the garden and, since the manure heap is not far from the van, Miss S. is concerned that people passing might think the smell is coming from there. She wants me to put a notice on the gate to the effect that the smell is the manure, not her. I say no, without adding, as I could, that the manure actually smells much nicer.
I am working in the garden when Miss B., the social worker, comes with a boxful of clothes.
Miss S. is reluctant to open the van door, as she is listening to 'Any Answers', but eventually she slides on her bottom to the door of the van and examines the clothes. She is unimpressed.
MISS S.: I only asked for one coat.
MISS B.: Well, I brought three just in case you wanted a change.
MISS S.: I haven't got room for three. Besides, I was planning to wash this coat in the near future. That makes four.
MISS B.: This is my old nursing mac.
MISS S.: I have a mac. Besides, green doesn't suit me. Have you got the stick?
MISS B.: No. That's being sent down. It made to be made specially.
MISS S.: Will it be long enough?
MISS B.: Yes. It's a special stick.
MISS S.: I don't want a special stick. I want an ordinary stick. Does it have a rubber thing on?”
― Alan Bennett, quote from The Lady In The Van
Alan Bennett
Born place: in Leeds, Yorkshire, The United Kingdom
Born date May 9, 1934
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“The morning of June 27th was clear and sunny, with the fresh warmth of a full-summer day; the flowers were blossoming profusely and the grass was richly green. The people of the village began to gather in the square, between the post office and the bank, around ten o'clock; in some towns there were so many people that the lottery took two days and had to be started on June 2th. but in this village, where there were only about three hundred people, the whole lottery took less than two hours, so it could begin at ten o'clock in the morning and still be through in time to allow the villagers to get home for noon dinner.”
― Shirley Jackson, quote from The Lottery and Other Stories
“We're the ones who will fill in the blank places. Maybe we can make it different.”
― Lois Lowry, quote from Gathering Blue
“_وروحك؟أين تظنين أنها ذهبت؟
_لابد أنها تهيم على الأرض مثل أرواح كثيرة اخرى،تبحث عن أحياء ليصلوا من أجلها
ربما إنها تكرهني للمعاملة السيئة التي عاملتها بها،ولكن هذا لايقلقني لقد استرحت من عادتها الذميمة بالتأنيب.فقد كانت تملأ بالمرارة حتى القليل مما كنت آكله،وتجعل ليالي لا تطاق وهي تملؤها بأفكار مقلقة عن صور لمحكومين بالعذاب الأبدي وأشياء من هذا القبيل.وعندما رقدت لأموت،رجتني أن أنهض وأتابع جرجرة الحياة،وكأنها مامتزال تنتظر معجزة ماتنظف خطاياي.لكنني لم أكبد نفسي ولو مشقة المحاولة،وقلت لها: هنا انتهت الطريق.ما عادت لدي قوة للمزيد
وفتحت فمي لتخرج منه.ومضت.وأحسست بخيط الدم الذي كانت ترتبط به إلى قلبي وهو يسقط بين يدي .
دوروتيا”
― Juan Rulfo, quote from Pedro Páramo
“He’s a book full of footnotes brought to life. He’s a jacket made of elbow patches.”
― Rainbow Rowell, quote from Carry On
“Believe in your own eyes and you'll get into a lot of trouble, hot water, a mess.”
― Salman Rushdie, quote from Haroun and the Sea of Stories
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