Dodie Smith citations

Page 2

“I wanted so terribly to be good to him.”

“Still, looking through the old volumes was soothing, because thinking of the past made the present seem a little less real.”

“If you love people, you take them on trust.”

“Only half a page left now. Shall I fill it with 'I love you, I love you'-- like father's page of cats on the mat? No. Even a broken heart doesn't warrant a waste of good paper.”

“Cruel blows of fate call for extreme kindness in the family circle.”

“The Devil's out of fashion.”

“I think it [religion] is an art, the greatest one; an extension of the communion all the other arts attempt.”

“My imagination longs to dash ahead and plan developments; but I have noticed that when things happen in one's imaginings, they never happen in one's life, so I am curbing myself.”

“I have really sinned. I am going to pause now, and sit here on the mound repenting in deepest shame…”

“Americans do seem to say things which make the English notice England.”

“Thinking of death--strange, beautiful, terrible and a long way off--made me feel happier than ever.”

“… for I know I shall be interrupted-- I shall want to be, really, because life is too exciting to sit still for long.”

“Stew's so comforting on a rainy day.”

“I have found that sitting in a place where you have never sat before can be inspiring - I wrote my very best poem while sitting on the hen-house.”

“I found it quite easy to carry on a casual conversation it was as if my real feelings were down fathoms deep in my mind and what we said was just a feathery surface spray.”

“… surely I could give him--a sort of contentment…

That isn't enough to give. Not for the giver.”

“Certain unique books seem to be without forerunners or successors as far as their authors are concerned. Even though they may profoundly influence the work of other writers, for their creator they're complete, not leading anywhere.”

“We were restless for ages… After a while I heard an owl hooting and calmed myself by thinking of it flying over the dark fields – and then I remembered it would be pouncing on mice. I love owls, but I wish God had made them vegetarian.”