Quotes by British Authors | Beyond Motive 48/399

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Quotes by British Authors

"Our trouble is that we drink too much tea. I see in this the slow revenge of the Orient, which has diverted the Yellow River down our throats."

"Our trouble is that we drink too much tea. I see in this the slow revenge of the Orient, which has diverted the Yellow River down our throats."

J. B. Priestley, British Writer

Lifestyle, Revenge, Tea, Trouble

45

"On the whole, I prefer Christmas as an adult than I did as a child."

"On the whole, I prefer Christmas as an adult than I did as a child."

Nigella Lawson, British Journalist

Christian, Christmas

45

"When all the girls were getting all made up and getting into all that girl stuff in junior high I was out playing softball or touch football with the guys."

"When all the girls were getting all made up and getting into all that girl stuff in junior high I was out playing softball or touch football with the guys."

Catherine Bell, British Model

Football, Girls

45

"Kenya doesn't have much of an infrastructure for hosting a film."

"Kenya doesn't have much of an infrastructure for hosting a film."

Ralph Fiennes, British Actor

45

"I met Jack Bruce, one of my heroes, in a studio while doing some recording. England had just beat Scotland in a big football match and I saw Jack trying to break into this refrigerator in the lounge, drunk out of his brain, and I didn't know what to say."

"I met Jack Bruce, one of my heroes, in a studio while doing some recording. England had just beat Scotland in a big football match and I saw Jack trying to break into this refrigerator in the lounge, drunk out of his brain, and I didn't know what to say."

Andy Partridge, British Musician

Football, EnglFootball, Heroes, Scotland, Trying

45

"Keeping our eyes on journey's end is what we need - the place where we see at last the world that is greater than the world, the new creation that cannot be contained in present thought or social order or piety."

"Keeping our eyes on journey's end is what we need - the place where we see at last the world that is greater than the world, the new creation that cannot be contained in present thought or social order or piety."

Rowan D. Williams, British Archbishop

Thought, Creation, End, Eyes

45

"No man chooses evil because it is evil; he only mistakes it for happiness, the good he seeks."

"No man chooses evil because it is evil; he only mistakes it for happiness, the good he seeks."

Mary Wollstonecraft, British Writer

Happiness, Evil, Man, Mistakes

45

"I have been wearing black, which was a reaction to the Ginger thing. But now I have hopes and I can be anything. Tomorrow I might be naked with a feather boa, who knows?"

"I have been wearing black, which was a reaction to the Ginger thing. But now I have hopes and I can be anything. Tomorrow I might be naked with a feather boa, who knows?"

Geri Halliwell, British Musician

45

"We always work at least a month to six weeks before we go on the road, usually for something like eight to 12 hours a night. It took six weeks to do it this time. We just play virtually everything we know."

"We always work at least a month to six weeks before we go on the road, usually for something like eight to 12 hours a night. It took six weeks to do it this time. We just play virtually everything we know."

Charlie Watts, British Musician

Work, Time, Night, Play

45

"When you consider what Tony Blair was saying about liberty, human rights and that sort of thing, it would be terribly revolutionary to sell the speeches he and Jack Straw made in 1994."

"When you consider what Tony Blair was saying about liberty, human rights and that sort of thing, it would be terribly revolutionary to sell the speeches he and Jack Straw made in 1994."

Rory Bremner, British Comedian

Rights, Human rights, Liberty, Saying

45

"I am never at my best in the early morning, especially a cold morning in the Yorkshire spring with a piercing March wind sweeping down from the fells, finding its way inside my clothing, nipping at my nose and ears."

"I am never at my best in the early morning, especially a cold morning in the Yorkshire spring with a piercing March wind sweeping down from the fells, finding its way inside my clothing, nipping at my nose and ears."

James Herriot, British Writer

Location, March, Spring, Wind

45

"I don't know to what extent someone can BECOME an artist - you either are or you aren't - and if you are you'll HAVE to make your way to some kind of sickly light, no matter how terrible the soil you were seeded in your nature will out somehow."

"I don't know to what extent someone can BECOME an artist - you either are or you aren't - and if you are you'll HAVE to make your way to some kind of sickly light, no matter how terrible the soil you were seeded in your nature will out somehow."

David Knopfler, British Musician

Nature, Artist, Light, Will

45

"Insensibly he formed the most delightful habit in the world, the habit of reading: he did not know that thus he was providing himself with a refuge from all the distress of life; he did not know either that he was creating for himself an unreal world which would make the real world of every day a source of bitter disappointment."

"Insensibly he formed the most delightful habit in the world, the habit of reading: he did not know that thus he was providing himself with a refuge from all the distress of life; he did not know either that he was creating for himself an unreal world which would make the real world of every day a source of bitter disappointment."

W. Somerset Maugham, British Playwright

Escape, Reading, Imagination, Reality

45

"Nearly all the Brazilian supporters are wearing yellow shirts - it's a fabulous kaleidoscope of colour."

"Nearly all the Brazilian supporters are wearing yellow shirts - it's a fabulous kaleidoscope of colour."

John Motson, British Celebrity

45

"An icon painter starts not with Jesus Christ but by finding earth and rubbing. Now what is earth, what are you rubbing in directing?"

"An icon painter starts not with Jesus Christ but by finding earth and rubbing. Now what is earth, what are you rubbing in directing?"

Peter Brook, British Producer

Christ, Earth, Now

45

"People like terra firma, and they should be allowed to walk where they wish."

"People like terra firma, and they should be allowed to walk where they wish."

Stephen Gardiner, British Architect

45

"There's always going to be that pressure when you're in front of the camera. When you're famous it's just an extreme version of reality and there's a pressure to look a certain way."

"There's always going to be that pressure when you're in front of the camera. When you're famous it's just an extreme version of reality and there's a pressure to look a certain way."

Geri Halliwell, British Musician

Extreme, Famous, Pressure, Reality

45

"I don't watch television, I think it destroys the art of talking about oneself."

"I don't watch television, I think it destroys the art of talking about oneself."

Stephen Fry, British Comedian

Art, Talking, Television

45

"There are not the same factual shows anymore - children's TV has become much more trivial."

"There are not the same factual shows anymore - children's TV has become much more trivial."

Johnny Ball, British Entertainer

45

"Russia can be quite a dangerous place sometimes, but I never think about it."

"Russia can be quite a dangerous place sometimes, but I never think about it."

Marc Almond, British Musician

45

"I think it's quite extraordinary that people cast me as if I'm Warren Beatty: until I met my present wife, at the age of 35, you could name two girlfriends."

"I think it's quite extraordinary that people cast me as if I'm Warren Beatty: until I met my present wife, at the age of 35, you could name two girlfriends."

Colin Firth, British Actor

Age, Wife, People, Girlfriends

45

"Every thing secret degenerates, even the administration of justice; nothing is safe that does not show how it can bear discussion and publicity."

"Every thing secret degenerates, even the administration of justice; nothing is safe that does not show how it can bear discussion and publicity."

Lord Acton, British Historian

Justice, Nothing, Publicity

45

"May is a very early time in the year and the weather is usually bad. You cannot run a fast mile race if there is a strong wind, because it makes your running uneven."

"May is a very early time in the year and the weather is usually bad. You cannot run a fast mile race if there is a strong wind, because it makes your running uneven."

Roger Bannister, British Athlete

Time, May, Race, Running

45

"At a certain age it just became apparent to me that this was probably the work that I would have to do."

"At a certain age it just became apparent to me that this was probably the work that I would have to do."

Daniel Day Lewis, British Actor

45

"The world is full of magical things patiently waiting for our wits to grow sharper."

"The world is full of magical things patiently waiting for our wits to grow sharper."

Bertrand Russell, British Philosopher

Curiosity, Waiting, World

45

"Having viewed Europe as an extension and projection of itself, France now finds Europe developing a mind and identity of its own which embraces France but is not controlled by France."

"Having viewed Europe as an extension and projection of itself, France now finds Europe developing a mind and identity of its own which embraces France but is not controlled by France."

Peter Mandelson, British Politician

Diplomacy, Europe, France, Identity, Mind

45

"Anyone who claims to have an entirely clear conscience is almost certainly a bore."

"Anyone who claims to have an entirely clear conscience is almost certainly a bore."

Bernard Cornwell, British Novelist

45

"Forget romantic fiction, a survey has found that most women would rather read a good book than go shopping, have sex, or sleep."

"Forget romantic fiction, a survey has found that most women would rather read a good book than go shopping, have sex, or sleep."

Janet Street-Porter, British Broadcaster

Woman, Women, Sex, Fiction, Forget

45

"If epic poetry is a definite species, the sagas do not fall within it."

"If epic poetry is a definite species, the sagas do not fall within it."

Lascelles Abercrombie, British Poet

45

"It was fantastic to work in Cornwall partly because my family live there so I was able to do lots of visiting and eat lots of cake. They live all over Cornwall and all over Devon."

"It was fantastic to work in Cornwall partly because my family live there so I was able to do lots of visiting and eat lots of cake. They live all over Cornwall and all over Devon."

Dawn French, British Comedian

45

"A lot of people say I'm bent, and I've heard it so many times that I've almost learned to accept it."

"A lot of people say I'm bent, and I've heard it so many times that I've almost learned to accept it."

Dusty Springfield, British Musician

45

"The early gigs were pretty panicky - and great, sweaty fun. We were brand new to most people, and they were willing to take anything brand new, for the first time in years."

Andy Partridge, British Musician

Time, People, First, Fun

45

"Whatever was the conduct of England, I am equally arraigned."

"Whatever was the conduct of England, I am equally arraigned."

Robert Walpole, British Statesman

Politics, England

45

"And we'd drink huge amounts of scotch and coke, which is a ghastly sweet drink... And now people don't drink nearly as much, for good reason. We're all a little wiser."

"And we'd drink huge amounts of scotch and coke, which is a ghastly sweet drink... And now people don't drink nearly as much, for good reason. We're all a little wiser."

Bill Bruford, British Musician

People, Now, Reason

45

"I would do any honest thing under the sun to know C. S. Lewis, and so am very grateful to you."

"I would do any honest thing under the sun to know C. S. Lewis, and so am very grateful to you."

Ruth Pitter, British Musician

45

"We manage to bounce ideas off one another. Every band fights, but at the end of the day, we're very positive about the way we fight. At least we come out with a result."

"We manage to bounce ideas off one another. Every band fights, but at the end of the day, we're very positive about the way we fight. At least we come out with a result."

Keith Emerson, British Musician

Ideas, Positive, Day, End

45

"Sometimes I write notes that I have difficulty singing."

"Sometimes I write notes that I have difficulty singing."

Elvis Costello, British Musician

Difficulty, Singing

45

"Praying privately in churches, I began to discover that heaven was my true home and also that it was here and now, woven into this life."

"Praying privately in churches, I began to discover that heaven was my true home and also that it was here and now, woven into this life."

Lionel Blue, British Clergyman

Home, Life, Churches, Heaven

45

"I do think I'm a character actor."

"I do think I'm a character actor."

Colin Firth, British Actor

45

"You don't have any kind of sense of being foolish when you are acting. When you're younger you don't want to look a fool, so you don't do things that might make you vulnerable."

"You don't have any kind of sense of being foolish when you are acting. When you're younger you don't want to look a fool, so you don't do things that might make you vulnerable."

Tom Wilkinson, British Actor

Acting, Being, Fool, Sense

45

"We worked solidly for a long time together. George Marriott Edgar and myself."

"We worked solidly for a long time together. George Marriott Edgar and myself."

Val Guest, British Director

45

"I'm the kind of actor who has ventured into escaping from me."

"I'm the kind of actor who has ventured into escaping from me."

Helena Bonham Carter, British Actress

45

"Kindness has converted more sinners than zeal, eloquence, or learning."

"Kindness has converted more sinners than zeal, eloquence, or learning."

Frederick William Faber, British Theologian

Eloquence, Kindness, Learning, Zeal

45

"Good words are worth much, and cost little."

"Good words are worth much, and cost little."

George Herbert, British Poet

Language, Words, Worth

45

"I am currently talking to one of the studios about making American Star as a TV series."

"I am currently talking to one of the studios about making American Star as a TV series."

Jackie Collins, British Author

Television, American, Talking

45

"Moderation is the center wherein all philosophies, both human and divine, meet."

"Moderation is the center wherein all philosophies, both human and divine, meet."

Benjamin Disraeli, British Statesman

Philosophy, Moderation

45

"I don't feel particularly comfortable about actors using whatever power they may have to push their beliefs, unless they're extremely well informed."

"I don't feel particularly comfortable about actors using whatever power they may have to push their beliefs, unless they're extremely well informed."

Ralph Fiennes, British Actor

Power, Actors, Beliefs, May

45

"The best practice you can get is on the bandstand, but in between gigs I feel I have to stay in shape."

"The best practice you can get is on the bandstand, but in between gigs I feel I have to stay in shape."

Bill Bruford, British Musician

45

"Writers are frequently asked why they wrote their first book. A more interesting answer might come from asking them why they wrote their second one."

"Writers are frequently asked why they wrote their first book. A more interesting answer might come from asking them why they wrote their second one."

Len Deighton, British Historian

Photography, First, Writers

45

"When I get off the plane in England I always feel about two inches shorter."

"When I get off the plane in England I always feel about two inches shorter."

Alan Rickman, British Actor

45

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