An Episode of Sparrows Quotes

“What happens when a sin is committed? Usually the sinner flourishes.”
― Rumer Godden, An Episode of Sparrows

“That was true, and dirt, earth, has power, an astonishing power of life, of creating and sweetening; it can take anything, a body, an old tin, decay, rust, corruption, filth, and turn it into itself, and slowly make it life, green blades of grass and weeds.”
― Rumer Godden, An Episode of Sparrows

“If you haven’t the money to buy the quality you want, go without, don’t compromise.”
― Rumer Godden, An Episode of Sparrows

“It’s queer, she thought, when you’re kind to people you can forget them but when you’re not, you can’t.”
― Rumer Godden, An Episode of Sparrows

“And I still think,” said Olivia, “that it’s better to try and fail, doing what you want to do, than not to try.” She could not explain it more clearly that that but she knew it was the trying that was important; even if it fails, it goes to swell the sum total of trying, as a martyr’s faith, even if he is killed for it, swells the faith of everyone.”
― Rumer Godden, An Episode of Sparrows

“I sometimes think,’ said Olivia, “from watching, of course, because I am not experienced, I think experience can be a—block.” Again it was clumsy, but she knew what she meant. “And why?” Asked Angela, amused. “Because if you think you know, you don’t ask questions,” said Olivia slowly, “or if you ask, you don’t listen to the answers.” Olivia had observed this often. “Everyone, everything, each thing, is different, so that it isn’t safe to know. You—you have to grope.” “That would be a nice efficient way to deal with things,” said Angela. She looked up again from the notes she was making. She’s not even listening to me, thought Olivia.”
― Rumer Godden, An Episode of Sparrows

“One of the things that has to be learned is that even sorrow cannot be had in peace, because other people have sorrows too.”
― Rumer Godden, An Episode of Sparrows

“I have come to believe that nothing is ever wasted; out of mistakes or through mistakes, something quite worthwhile can come, in my case the see of another novel.”
― Rumer Godden, An Episode of Sparrows

“You have to pray for things for ages,' said Tip, 'and you don’t always get them then.'
'Why not?' asked Lovejoy, who wanted a quick return.
'God doesn’t want you to have them, I s’pose,' said Tip.
Lovejoy looked sternly into the church at the plaster figures. 'Which one is God?' she asked.”
― Rumer Godden, An Episode of Sparrows

“Steps came towards the chapel—to fetch me, thought Lovejoy in a panic. In a moment someone would say, “Come along.” All the things said to children rose in her mind. “Do as you’re told.” “Don’t answer back.” “Come along.” “Be quiet.” Lovejoy ground her teeth. Quiet, obedient, grateful. All the detestable things children should be, and all the lovely free things, thought Lovejoy, that they must not, opinionated, cocky—she hadn’t Angela’s word “cocksure.” Cocky, thought Lovejoy longingly. The door opened. “Come along,” said Sister Agnes, but Lovejoy was praying. “Hail Mary,” prayed Lovejoy between her teeth, “Mary, make me cocky and independent.”
― Rumer Godden, An Episode of Sparrows

“It’s. Not old-fashioned to say God is good. Remember, not one sparrow can fall to the ground—“ “But they fall all the time,” said Olivia. “We knock them down. We knock them, crush them—carelessly or carefully, it doesn’t matter which, and they fall. That’s what humans do to humans, so don’t talk to me about God.”
― Rumer Godden, An Episode of Sparrows

“Then you won’t come?” Said Father Lambert. “I’m sorry, I can’t.” She went to the door and held it open, but the Father was looking at Olivia—“As if I were an identity,” said Olivia afterwards, but that was not the right word. “You mean entity,” said Angela. “Isn’t everyone that?” But Olivia shook her head. Up to that moment, or the moment that Lovejoy had taken her hand, she, Olivia, had been a shadow.”
― Rumer Godden, An Episode of Sparrows

“I’m afraid startling things are not impossible, Miss Chesney.”
― Rumer Godden, An Episode of Sparrows

“Wanting is the beginning of getting.’ Vincent said that often. “Then why don’t people get things?” Asked Lovejoy. “Because they don’t want hard enough.” Certainly no one could have accused Vincent or Lovejoy of that.”
― Rumer Godden, An Episode of Sparrows

“She could not take the words back—words never will come back—and she looked round for something she could do.”
― Rumer Godden, An Episode of Sparrows

“She did not know that males do not care to be circumvented, however wonderfully, by their females.”
― Rumer Godden, An Episode of Sparrows

“He rolled the trolley away and fetched the wine, which Mrs. Combie had kept in the hot kitchen to warm a little more after it had been shown in its cradle to Charles and carefully uncorked. “Let it breathe a few moments,” Vincent had said, and Lovejoy had looked at it, not daring to touch it; she had not known wine was alive.”
― Rumer Godden, An Episode of Sparrows

“You are making a mountain out of a molehill,’ said Angela. Olivia was suddenly inspired to answer, ‘A molehill can be a mountain to a sparrow.”
― Rumer Godden, An Episode of Sparrows