The Memory Library Quotes

“We should regret our mistakes and learn from them, but never carry them forward into the future with us.”
― Kate Storey, The Memory Library

“Albert Einstein believed that someone who had never made a mistake was someone who had never tried anything new,”
― Kate Storey, The Memory Library

“Virginia Woolf says that a woman needs money and a room of her own if she wants to write fiction,’ Ella said. ‘Write fiction?’ ‘You could substitute painting for fiction,’ Ella said. ‘It’s the same sentiment. Virginia Woolf was saying male and female creative experiences are worlds apart. A man can just get on with it because he probably earns money of his own and has a woman behind him doing all the practical life stuff, like cooking and bringing up the children. A woman in her day couldn’t hope to write a book unless she had independent money and a room of her own. And things haven’t changed as much as we’d like.”
― Kate Storey, The Memory Library

“Life’s too short to read books you don’t enjoy”
― Kate Storey, The Memory Library

“Have you read the Seamus Heaney poem, Follower?”
― Kate Storey, The Memory Library

“Comparison is the thief of joy.”
― Kate Storey, The Memory Library

“I think everyone should have a library that’s been made for them specially, with lovely words about why a particular book was chosen – it would be a hell of a lot more meaningful than a card. Anyone who’s survived another year on this earth deserves a few hundred pages and a dedication.”
― Kate Storey, The Memory Library

“Nobody told you that having any kind of family meant never being sure if you were doing the right thing.”
― Kate Storey, The Memory Library

“the real world isn’t some kind of fairy tale. People aren’t all on some redemption arc. They turn out to be different to who you thought they were, and they let you down. Even the ones you love the most.”
― Kate Storey, The Memory Library

“Pride is one of the seven deadly sins; but it cannot be the pride of a mother in her children, for that is a compound of two cardinal virtues – faith and hope.”
― Kate Storey, The Memory Library

“once read that whenever you read a good book, somewhere in the world a door opens to allow in more light.’ He smiled sadly. ‘I’ve read a lot of good books, so my world has always been full of light.”
― Kate Storey, The Memory Library

“responsibility? Should we be persuaded by people we respect, or should we only take our own counsel?”
― Kate Storey, The Memory Library

“To whom do we owe duty? Is it to ourselves, or our parents, spouses, children, society as a whole? Who teaches us our duties, and are they worthy of such responsibility?”
― Kate Storey, The Memory Library

“man can just get on with it because he probably earns money of his own and has a woman behind him doing all the practical life stuff, like cooking and bringing up the children. A woman in her day couldn’t hope”
― Kate Storey, The Memory Library

“Under some delusional sense of not being like her mother, Ella had denied herself one of life’s most simple pleasures: living multiple lives through someone else’s words.”
― Kate Storey, The Memory Library

“If we accepted our parents were individuals in their own right, like we are, then we would have to accept we are not the centre of their world. They are. And we’d know they’re fallible, and that wouldn’t work for us, when we’re kids at least, would it? Parents have got to be right all the time. They have to be in charge and make all the right decisions. That keeps us safe.”
― Kate Storey, The Memory Library

“She was ashamed that she hadn’t considered his needs. She’d been too busy feeling pious about how hard she worked.”
― Kate Storey, The Memory Library

“the right decisions. That keeps us safe. ‘When we realise they’re actually human, it’s a bit of a blow, because then we know they can’t always protect us. We have to reframe our world view. I don’t think many of us choose to do that. We prefer to keep them as saviour figures. It’s why we cry for our mothers when we are in the worst situations, because they can protect us from anything. Heartbreaking, really, when you think about it.’ He gave a bouncy shrug. ‘That’s my theory, anyway.’ As”
― Kate Storey, The Memory Library

“we accepted our parents were individuals in their own right, like we are, then we would have to accept we are not the centre of their world. They are. And we’d know they’re fallible, and that wouldn’t work for us, when we’re kids at least, would it? Parents have got to be right all the time. They have to be in charge and make”
― Kate Storey, The Memory Library

“We all make mistakes, dear, so just put it behind you. We should regret our mistakes and learn from them, but never carry them forward into the future with us.”
― Kate Storey, The Memory Library

“I once read that whenever you read a good book, somewhere in the world a door opens to allow in more light.”
― Kate Storey, The Memory Library

“Comparison is the thief of joy. That’s what they say, isn’t it?”
― Kate Storey, The Memory Library

“I think everyone should have a library that’s been made for them specially, with lovely words about why a particular book was chosen – it would be a hell of a lot more meaningful than a card.”
― Kate Storey, The Memory Library

“Back then, if she was Queen of the World, she’d let everyone read books all day long if they wanted.”
― Kate Storey, The Memory Library

“ringing her at”
― Kate Storey, The Memory Library

“I once read that whenever you read a good book, somewhere in the world a door opens to allow in more light.’ He smiled sadly. ‘I’ve read a lot of good books, so my world has always been full of light.”
― Kate Storey, The Memory Library