Iris Murdoch book The Nice and the Good
The Nice and the Good (1968), ch. 22.
Source: Postcards from Ed: Dispatches and Salvos from an American Iconoclast
Iris Murdoch book The Nice and the Good
The Nice and the Good (1968), ch. 22.
“A common man marvels at uncommon things. A wise man marvels at the commonplace.”
Confucius (-551–-479 BC) Chinese teacher, editor, politician, and philosopher
Nicholas Sparks book The Lucky One
Elizabeth Green, Chapter 15, Beth, p. 274
Variant: Sometimes the most ordinary things could be made extraordinary, simply by doin them with the right people.(Elizabeth Green)
Source: 2000s, The Lucky One (2008)
“Ivan Ilych's life had been most simple and most ordinary and therefore most terrible.”
Leo Tolstoy The Death of Ivan Ilyich
Source: The Death of Ivan Ilyich (1886), Ch. II
Source: The Death of Ivan Ilyich and Other Stories
Gracie Allen (1902–1964) American actress and comedienne
Source: How to Become President (1940), Ch. 3 : Why a woman president? Well, why?
Context: Now, I don’t pretend to know all the answers. I’m just a plain, ordinary, everyday genius who loves her fellow-man whenever possible. But let me tell you that women are getting very tired of running a poor second to the Forgotten Man, and with all the practice we’ve had around the house the time is ripe for a woman to sweep the country. I’ll make a prediction with my eyes open: that a woman can and will be elected if she is qualified and gets enough votes.
“Tea! Bless ordinary everyday afternoon tea!”
Agatha Christie (1890–1976) English mystery and detective writer
“The most ordinary things could be made extraordinary.”
Nicholas Sparks book The Lucky One
Variant: Even the most ordinary things can be made extraordinary simply by doing it with the right people.
Source: The Lucky One
Terry Eagleton (1943) British writer, academic and educator
Introduction: What is Literature?, p. 2
1980s, Literary Theory: An Introduction (1983)
Context: Literature transforms and intensifies ordinary language, deviates systematically from everyday speech. If you approach me at a bus stop and murmur "Thou still unravished bride of quietness," then I am instantly aware that I am in the presence of the literary.