Saint Jack Quotes

“Death rephrases the life of everyone who's near.”
― Paul Theroux, Saint Jack

“Mimicry reassures the weak, and the envious fool takes the risk as often as the visionary who mocks the error and leave the man alone.”
― Paul Theroux, Saint Jack

“One thinks one is going to the tropics and one finds oneself in the Chinese version of Welwyn Garden City.”
― Paul Theroux, Saint Jack

“Yeah,” said Frogget, turning away from me and rubbing his nose which in profile was a snout.”
― Paul Theroux, Saint Jack

“You’d put the wrong interpretation on them,” I said. “That would kill me.” And I wanted to say, but I couldn’t phrase it, that the honor he talked about was a very arbitrary notion, as temporary as power, and would be out of fashion tomorrow, when the sides changed. I wanted no part of the graceless distortion. I was a person of small virtue; virtue wasn’t salvation, but knowing that might be.”
― Paul Theroux, Saint Jack

“I haven’t had your advantages,” I said. “See, I don’t know very much about virtue.” “I do,” said Shuck. “Good for you,” I said. “Virtue is the distance that separates you from your favorite villain, right?”
― Paul Theroux, Saint Jack

“Twenty years later William Leigh turned up and asked me urgent questions, and died with a foolish sentence on his lips before I could reply; and I burned him to dust. So this memoir was provoked.”
― Paul Theroux, Saint Jack

“The silent fellers in the Bandung were not listening; they were waiting for a chance to talk.”
― Paul Theroux, Saint Jack

“In such a small place, an island with no natives, everyone a visitor, the foreigner made himself a resident by emphasizing his foreignness.”
― Paul Theroux, Saint Jack

“I am,” I said, and felt sad. But when I got into the little car with Gladys and started away, throwing the shift into second gear, I felt only relief, a springy lightness of acquittal that was like youth. I was allowed all my secrets again, and could keep them if I watched my step. It was like being proven stupid and then, miraculously, made wise.”
― Paul Theroux, Saint Jack

“Despair is simple: fear without a voice, a sinking and a screamless fright.”
― Paul Theroux, Saint Jack

“My imitations were not very accurate, but my size and panting determination made the attempt funny. Mimicry reassures the weak, and the envious fool takes the risk as often as the visionary who mocks the error and leaves the man alone; I did not like to be reminded by my brand of mimicry.”
― Paul Theroux, Saint Jack

“Fifty: it is a dangerous age—for all men, and especially for one like me who has a tendency to board sinking ships.”
― Paul Theroux, Saint Jack

“Smale was a short, ruddy-faced man whose squarish appearance gave the impression of having been carpentered”
― Paul Theroux, Saint Jack