Alan Bennett Quotes

Top 91 wise famous quotes and sayings by Alan Bennett

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Alan Bennett Famous Quotes & Sayings

Discover top inspirational quotes from Alan Bennett on Wise Famous Quotes.

Alan Bennett quotes: Still, for all that everybody, while not happy, is not unhappy about it. And so they go on. Still, for all that everybody, while not happy, is not unhappy about it. And so they go on.
Alan Bennett quotes: If you think squash is a competitive activity, try flower arranging. If you think squash is a competitive activity, try flower arranging.
Alan Bennett quotes: Still, to be urged to write and to be urged to publish are two different things and nobody so far was urging her to do the latter. Still, to be urged to write and to be urged to publish are two different things and nobody so far was urging her to do the latter.
Alan Bennett quotes: Full-blooded romantic love I wouldn't be able to write about. Full-blooded romantic love I wouldn't be able to write about.
Alan Bennett quotes: Books are not about passing the time. They're about other lives. Other worlds. Books are not about passing the time. They're about other lives. Other worlds.
Alan Bennett quotes: The prime minister did not wholly believe in the past or in any lessons that might be drawn from it. The prime minister did not wholly believe in the past or in any lessons that might be drawn from it.
Alan Bennett quotes: At eighty things do not occur; they recur. At eighty things do not occur; they recur.
Alan Bennett quotes: Cancer, like any other illness, is a bore. Cancer, like any other illness, is a bore.
Alan Bennett quotes: A book is a device to ignite the imagination. A book is a device to ignite the imagination.
Alan Bennett quotes: You don't put your life into books. You find it there. You don't put your life into books. You find it there.
Alan Bennett quotes: My films are about embarrassment. My films are about embarrassment.
Alan Bennett quotes: Cloisters, ancient libraries ... I was confusing learning with the smell of cold stone. Cloisters, ancient libraries ... I was confusing learning with the smell of cold stone.
Alan Bennett quotes: Were we closer to the ground as children, or is the grass emptier now? Were we closer to the ground as children, or is the grass emptier now?
Alan Bennett quotes: She wasn't wholly infatuated, though she liked the way he looked; but, so too did he and that unfatuated her a bit. She wasn't wholly infatuated, though she liked the way he looked; but, so too did he and that unfatuated her a bit.
Alan Bennett quotes: Never at my best when at my best behaviour. Never at my best when at my best behaviour.
Alan Bennett quotes: To read is to withdraw.To make oneself unavailable. One would feel easier about it if the pursuit inself were less ... selfish. To read is to withdraw.To make oneself unavailable. One would feel easier about it if the pursuit inself were less ... selfish.
Alan Bennett quotes: I lack what the English call character, by which they mean the power to refrain. I lack what the English call character, by which they mean the power to refrain.
Alan Bennett quotes: It's subjunctive history. You know, the subjunctive? The mood used when something may or may not have happened. When it is imagined. It's subjunctive history. You know, the subjunctive? The mood used when something may or may not have happened. When it is imagined.
Alan Bennett quotes: Still, though reading absorbed her, what the Queen had not expected was the degree to which it drained her of enthusiasm for anything else. Still, though reading absorbed her, what the Queen had not expected was the degree to which it drained her of enthusiasm for anything else.
Alan Bennett quotes: I always feel over-appreciated but underestimated. I always feel over-appreciated but underestimated.
Alan Bennett quotes: Polly: Education with socialists, it's like sex, all right as long as you don't have to pay for it. Polly: Education with socialists, it's like sex, all right as long as you don't have to pay for it.
Alan Bennett quotes: I've been very lucky in everything, really - in my career and in finding someone to share my life with, and in not dying. I've been very lucky in everything, really - in my career and in finding someone to share my life with, and in not dying.
Alan Bennett quotes: Life is rather like a tin of sardines - we're all of us looking for the key. Life is rather like a tin of sardines - we're all of us looking for the key.
Alan Bennett quotes: Sometimes there is no next time, no time-outs, no second chances. Sometimes it's now or never. Sometimes there is no next time, no time-outs, no second chances. Sometimes it's now or never.
Alan Bennett quotes: History nowadays is not a matter of conviction.It's a performance. It's entertainment. And if it isn't, make it so. History nowadays is not a matter of conviction.
It's a performance. It's entertainment. And if it isn't, make it so.
Alan Bennett quotes: Children always assume the sexual lives of their parents come to a grinding halt at their conception. Children always assume the sexual lives of their parents come to a grinding halt at their conception.
Alan Bennett quotes: I have to seem like a human being all the time, but I seldom have to be one. I have people to do that for me. I have to seem like a human being all the time, but I seldom have to be one. I have people to do that for me.
Alan Bennett quotes: Above literature?' said the Queen. 'Who is above literature? You might as well say one was above humanity. Above literature?' said the Queen. 'Who is above literature? You might as well say one was above humanity.
Alan Bennett quotes: Reading is untidy, discursive and perpetually inviting. Reading is untidy, discursive and perpetually inviting.
Alan Bennett quotes: Once upon a time I had my life planned out... Once upon a time I had my life planned out...
Alan Bennett quotes: Schweitzer in the Congo did not derive more moral credit than Larkin did for living in Hull. Schweitzer in the Congo did not derive more moral credit than Larkin did for living in Hull.
Alan Bennett quotes: It was the kind of library he had only read about in books. It was the kind of library he had only read about in books.
Alan Bennett quotes: I'm for the freedom of expression, given that it will be under strict control. I'm for the freedom of expression, given that it will be under strict control.
Alan Bennett quotes: You don't put your life into your books, you find it there. You don't put your life into your books, you find it there.
Alan Bennett quotes: There is no such thing as a good script, onlya good film, and I'm conscious that my scripts often read better than they play. There is no such thing as a good script, onlya good film, and I'm conscious that my scripts often read better than they play.
Alan Bennett quotes: We were put to Dickens as children but it never quite took. That unremitting humanity soon had me cheesed off. We were put to Dickens as children but it never quite took. That unremitting humanity soon had me cheesed off.
Alan Bennett quotes: That's a bit like asking a man crawling across the Sahara whether he would prefer Perrier or Malvern water. That's a bit like asking a man crawling across the Sahara whether he would prefer Perrier or Malvern water.
Alan Bennett quotes: I have no nickname, as there has never been any need for one. I have no nickname, as there has never been any need for one.
Alan Bennett quotes: The transmission of knowledge is in itself an erotic act. The transmission of knowledge is in itself an erotic act.
Alan Bennett quotes: I write plays about things that I can't resolve in my mind. I try to root things out. I write plays about things that I can't resolve in my mind. I try to root things out.
Alan Bennett quotes: Closing a public library is child abuse, really, because it hinders child development. Closing a public library is child abuse, really, because it hinders child development.
Alan Bennett quotes: Life is generally something that happens elsewhere. Life is generally something that happens elsewhere.
Alan Bennett quotes: Marriage is supposed to be a partnership. Good-looking people marry good-looking people and the others take what's left. Marriage is supposed to be a partnership. Good-looking people marry good-looking people and the others take what's left.
Alan Bennett quotes: How old does one have to be still to say tits? How old does one have to be still to say tits?
Alan Bennett quotes: I turned down a knighthood. It would be like having to wear a suit every day of your life. I turned down a knighthood. It would be like having to wear a suit every day of your life.
Alan Bennett quotes: I'm not "happy" but I'm not unhappy about it. I'm not "happy" but I'm not unhappy about it.
Alan Bennett quotes: We started off trying to set up a small anarchist community, but people wouldn't obey the rules. We started off trying to set up a small anarchist community, but people wouldn't obey the rules.
Alan Bennett quotes: God doesn't do notes, either. Did Jesus Christ say, "Can I be excused the Crucifixion?" No! God doesn't do notes, either. Did Jesus Christ say, "Can I be excused the Crucifixion?" No!
Alan Bennett quotes: F they'd been working with Alec Guinness, for instance, they wouldn't have known they were born if they'd not towed the line! F they'd been working with Alec Guinness, for instance, they wouldn't have known they were born if they'd not towed the line!
Alan Bennett quotes: Life is like a box of sardines and we are all looking for the key. Life is like a box of sardines and we are all looking for the key.
Alan Bennett quotes: No mention of God. They keep Him up their sleeves for as long as they can, vicars do. They know it puts people off. No mention of God. They keep Him up their sleeves for as long as they can, vicars do. They know it puts people off.
Alan Bennett quotes: I'd somehow always thought of the classics of literature as something apart from me, something to do with academic life and not something you enjoyed. I'd somehow always thought of the classics of literature as something apart from me, something to do with academic life and not something you enjoyed.
Alan Bennett quotes: Memories are not shackles, Franklin, they are garlands. Memories are not shackles, Franklin, they are garlands.
Alan Bennett quotes: One reads for pleasure...it is not a public duty. One reads for pleasure...it is not a public duty.
Alan Bennett quotes: To play Trivial Pursuit with a life like mine could be said to be a form of homeopathy. To play Trivial Pursuit with a life like mine could be said to be a form of homeopathy.
Alan Bennett quotes: Your whole life is on the other side of the glass. And there is nobody watching. Your whole life is on the other side of the glass. And there is nobody watching.
Alan Bennett quotes: One seldom was able to do her a good turn without some thoughts of strangulation. One seldom was able to do her a good turn without some thoughts of strangulation.
Alan Bennett quotes: I note at the age of ten a fully developed ability not quite to enjoy myself, a capacity I have retained intact ever since. I note at the age of ten a fully developed ability not quite to enjoy myself, a capacity I have retained intact ever since.
Alan Bennett quotes: I'm all in favour of free expression provided it's kept rigidly under control. I'm all in favour of free expression provided it's kept rigidly under control.
Alan Bennett quotes: Proust's is a long book, though, water- skiing permitting, you could get through it in the summer recess Proust's is a long book, though, water- skiing permitting, you could get through it in the summer recess
Alan Bennett quotes: Here I sit, alone at 60,Bald and fat and full of sinCold the seat, and loud the cisternAs I read the (Harpic) (Lysol) tin Here I sit, alone at 60,
Bald and fat and full of sin
Cold the seat, and loud the cistern
As I read the (Harpic) (Lysol) tin
Alan Bennett quotes: Definition of a classic: a book everyone is assumed to have read and often thinks they have. Definition of a classic: a book everyone is assumed to have read and often thinks they have.
Alan Bennett quotes: Philip Larkin used to cheer himself up by looking in the mirror and saying the line from Rebecca, 'I am Mrs de Winter now! Philip Larkin used to cheer himself up by looking in the mirror and saying the line from Rebecca, 'I am Mrs de Winter now!
Alan Bennett quotes: Still as I've said all along, you can't polish a turd. Still as I've said all along, you can't polish a turd.
Alan Bennett quotes: It is seldom at the frontier that discoveries are made but more often in the dustbin. It is seldom at the frontier that discoveries are made but more often in the dustbin.
Alan Bennett quotes: I don't want to see libraries close; I want to find local solutions that will make them sustainable. I don't want to see libraries close; I want to find local solutions that will make them sustainable.
Alan Bennett quotes: Of course my standards are out of date! That's why they're called standards. Of course my standards are out of date! That's why they're called standards.
Alan Bennett quotes: I have never understood disliking for war. It panders to instincts already catered for within the scope of any respectable domestic establishment. I have never understood disliking for war. It panders to instincts already catered for within the scope of any respectable domestic establishment.
Alan Bennett quotes: I know what's required. It's perfectly simple: Justice. I know what's required. It's perfectly simple: Justice.
Alan Bennett quotes: All knowledge is precious whether or not it serves the slightest human use. All knowledge is precious whether or not it serves the slightest human use.
Alan Bennett quotes: Had your forefathers, Wigglesworth, been as stupid as you are, the human race would never have succeeded in procreating itself. Had your forefathers, Wigglesworth, been as stupid as you are, the human race would never have succeeded in procreating itself.
Alan Bennett quotes: If you find yourself born in Barnsley and then set your sights on being Virginia Woolf it is not going to be roses all the way. If you find yourself born in Barnsley and then set your sights on being Virginia Woolf it is not going to be roses all the way.
Alan Bennett quotes: I don't believe in private education. I don't believe in private education.
Alan Bennett quotes: Nature played a cruel trick on her by giving her a waxed mustache. Nature played a cruel trick on her by giving her a waxed mustache.
Alan Bennett quotes: I'm more socialist certainly than New Labour - I'm very old Labour, really. I'm more socialist certainly than New Labour - I'm very old Labour, really.
Alan Bennett quotes: I can walk. It's just that I'm so rich I don't need to. I can walk. It's just that I'm so rich I don't need to.
Alan Bennett quotes: Why is it always the "intelligent" people who are socialists? Why is it always the "intelligent" people who are socialists?
Alan Bennett quotes: She'd never taken much interest in reading. She read, of course, as one did, but liking books was something she left to other people. She'd never taken much interest in reading. She read, of course, as one did, but liking books was something she left to other people.
Alan Bennett quotes: If I am doing nothing, I like to be doing nothing to some purpose. That is what leisure means. If I am doing nothing, I like to be doing nothing to some purpose. That is what leisure means.
Alan Bennett quotes: One of the hardest things for boys to learn is that a teacher is human. One of the hardest things for a teacher to learn is not to try and One of the hardest things for boys to learn is that a teacher is human. One of the hardest things for a teacher to learn is not to try and tell them.
Alan Bennett quotes: Standards are always out of date. That's what makes them standards. Standards are always out of date. That's what makes them standards.
Alan Bennett quotes: I've never seen the point of the sea, except where it meets the land. The shore has a point. The sea has none. I've never seen the point of the sea, except where it meets the land. The shore has a point. The sea has none.
Alan Bennett quotes: I am the King. I tell. I am not told. I am the verb, sir. I am not the object. (King George III) I am the King. I tell. I am not told. I am the verb, sir. I am not the object. (King George III)
Alan Bennett quotes: I'm not good at precise, coherent argument. But plays are suited to incoherent argument, put into the mouths of fallible people. I'm not good at precise, coherent argument. But plays are suited to incoherent argument, put into the mouths of fallible people.
Alan Bennett quotes: History is a commentary on the various and continuing incapabilities of men. What is history? History is women following behind with the bucket. History is a commentary on the various and continuing incapabilities of men. What is history? History is women following behind with the bucket.
Alan Bennett quotes: All the effort went into getting there and then I had nothing left. I thought I'd got somewhere, then I found I had to go on. All the effort went into getting there and then I had nothing left. I thought I'd got somewhere, then I found I had to go on.
Alan Bennett quotes: Mark my words, when a society has to resort to the lavatory for its humour, the writing is on the wall. Mark my words, when a society has to resort to the lavatory for its humour, the writing is on the wall.
Alan Bennett quotes: I'm less genial than people think, but I'm too timid to seem nasty. I'm less genial than people think, but I'm too timid to seem nasty.
Alan Bennett quotes: How do I define history? It's just one fucking thing after another How do I define history? It's just one fucking thing after another
Alan Bennett quotes: as I think Hebbel says, in a good play everyone is right. as I think Hebbel says, in a good play everyone is right.
Alan Bennett quotes: So boring you fall asleep halfway through her name. So boring you fall asleep halfway through her name.

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