Michelle Harrison > Michelle's Quotes

“Never did she find anything so difficult as to keep herself from losing her temper when she was suddenly disturbed while absorbed in a book. People who are fond of books know the feeling of irritation which sweeps over them at such a moment. The temptation to be unreasonable and snappish is one not easy to manage.”
― Frances Hodgson Burnett, A Little Princess

“There are certain people in whom you can detect the seeds of madness - seeds that have remained dormant only because the people in question have lived relatively comfortable, middle class lives. They function perfectly well in the world, but you can imagine, given a nasty parent, or a prolonged bout of unemployment, how their potential for craziness might have been realized.”
― Zoe Heller, What Was She Thinking? [Notes on a Scandal]

“Intent matters. If you believe you're charmed, capable, likable, popular, then you are.”
― Brenna Yovanoff

“There was no point dreaming; the leaflet was nothing more than a glass slipper handed to the ugly sister. I would never fit in there even if they'd let me go, which was a fairy tale in itself.”
― Louisa Reid, Black Heart Blue

“Without stories, how do we know who we are? How can we imagine who we can be?”
― Kate Cann

“But Urdda stood firm. 'Where do you come from, sir?'

'I come' - the littlee-man stalked towards her in a way that might have been menacing, had he been full-sized - 'from Smelly-bumhole Land. You may call me Mister Odiferous. Up through the arse of the world I come here, and when I'm finished I will squeeze myself back out it.”
― Margo Lanagan, Tender Morsels

“My little dog—a heartbeat at my feet.”
― Edith Wharton

“They weren’t bad books,” Phin countered patiently. “They were books that you didn’t enjoy. It’s not the same thing at all. The only bad books are books that are so badly written that no one will publish them. Any book that has been published is going to be a ‘good book’ for someone.”
― Lisa Jewell, The Family Upstairs