Undermajordomo Minor Quotes

“His heart was a church of his own choosing,
and the lights came through
the colourful windows.”
― Patrick deWitt, Undermajordomo Minor

“I find the constant upkeep of the body woefully fatiguing, don’t you?”
― Patrick deWitt, Undermajordomo Minor

“I shall not sit idly by and settle for anything other than a perfect cup of tea.”
― Patrick deWitt, Undermajordomo Minor

“You always bring God into arguments you know you're losing, for the liar is lonely, and welcomes all manner of company.”
― Patrick deWitt, Undermajordomo Minor

“Let us look within ourselves and search out the dormant warrior.” “Mine is dormant to the point of non-existence, sir.”
― Patrick deWitt, Undermajordomo Minor

“She wasn’t precisely sure what she was walking toward but she wouldn’t have turned around for the world.”
― Patrick deWitt, Undermajordomo Minor

“It occurred to him that, much in the way one experiences a brightening when walking beneath a cherry tree in bloom, so too did Klara generate and throw light.”
― Patrick deWitt, Undermajordomo Minor

“A man accepts an inferior cup of tea, telling himself it is only a small thing. But what comes next? Do you see?”
― Patrick deWitt, Undermajordomo Minor

“All I know, boy, is that life is, on occasion, entirely too vast for my tastes.”
― Patrick deWitt, Undermajordomo Minor

“What of the melancholy, may I ask?"
"Stubbornly persistent, I'm sorry to say."
"If only modest joy were so dogged, eh?"
"You said something there, sir.”
― Patrick deWitt, Undermajordomo Minor

“Easier asked than answered,” said Mr. Olderglough. “For our days here are varied, and so our needs are also varied. On the whole, I think you’ll find the workload to be light in that you will surely have ample free time. But then there comes the question of what one does with his free time. I have occasionally felt that this was the most difficult part of the job; indeed, the most difficult part of being alive, wouldn’t you say, boy?”
― Patrick deWitt, Undermajordomo Minor

“Love is so urgent as all that, eh?”
― Patrick deWitt, Undermajordomo Minor

“Walking away on the springy legs of a foal, he thought, How remarkable a thing a lie is. He wondered if it wasn’t man’s finest achievement, and after some consideration, decided that it was.”
― Patrick deWitt, Undermajordomo Minor

“Lucy didn’t understand how her laughter could be so blithe and enchanting when she herself was so covetous and ungenerous.”
― Patrick deWitt, Undermajordomo Minor

“There is darkness and there is darkness, thought Lucy. This is darkness.”
― Patrick deWitt, Undermajordomo Minor

“As it happens, I’m chasing after a girl, Father. For it has come to pass that I’ve fallen in love.” Father Raymond leaned in. “In love, you say?” “Just so.” “And what is that like? I’ve often wondered about it.” Lucy said, “It is a glory and a torment.” “Really? Would you not recommend it, then?” “I would recommend it highly. Just to say it’s not for the faint of heart.”
― Patrick deWitt, Undermajordomo Minor

“We must try again,” said Lucy. “Must we?” Tomas asked. “Of course we must. Otherwise we’ll die here.” Here Tomas spoke gently, and with tranquil understanding. “That’s not how we see it, Lucy.” “How do you see it?” “We’ll live here.”
― Patrick deWitt, Undermajordomo Minor

“The Count, in his negligence, as if to intentionally cultivate his negligence, was eating the tart from the cup of his palm, with all the aplomb of a hog lapping slop.”
― Patrick deWitt, Undermajordomo Minor

“The Baron folded the letter and set it upon the side table. “All I know, boy, is that life is, on occasion, entirely too vast for my tastes.” Here he submerged himself, and afterward did a great many bubbles rise up from the depths of the bathtub, this due to the fact of the Baron screaming underwater.”
― Patrick deWitt, Undermajordomo Minor

“In actuality they were neither of them old men; their arms were still wiry with muscle, their backs straight and strong, and yet they had surpassed the mean, the centremark of their lives, and were both aware of an overall dimming. “Every”
― Patrick deWitt, Undermajordomo Minor

“And yet he held his tongue, wanting his farewell with Marina to be peaceable, not out of any magnanimity, but so that after Tor ruined her—he felt confident Tor would ruin her—and she was once more alone, she would think of Lucy’s graciousness and feel the long-lingering sting of bitter regret.”
― Patrick deWitt, Undermajordomo Minor

“Peter was rapt. He tilted his head to better study the stranger before him, and presently issued a hesitant, hoarse croak in the minor key. There followed a dense silence where neither Lucy nor Mr. Olderglough drew a breath, and then, finally, Peter sang his long-lost tune. It came out in purling currents, as though his keeping it in had been an agony. Peter sang to his reflection, sang a love song to himself, for he was no longer alone, and the world was filled with unmapped possibilities.”
― Patrick deWitt, Undermajordomo Minor

“Walking away on the springy legs of a foal he thought, How remarkable a thing a lie is. He wondered if it wasn't man's finest achievement, and after some consideration, he decided it was.”
― Patrick deWitt, Undermajordomo Minor

“He wandered here and there over rolling hills.
He never saw the ocean but
dreamed of it often enough.”
― Patrick deWitt, Undermajordomo Minor

“It is a glory and a torment.”
― Patrick deWitt, Undermajordomo Minor