Mister Memory Quotes

“Of course, punishment is important,’ snaps Petit, feeling nettle once more. ‘ it is the contract that the criminal makes with society - he commits an act against the individual, which is the same as to commit and act against society, and in return, he knows he must receive punishment.”
― Marcus Sedgwick, Mister Memory

“Over the last few years, the hospital has moved rapidly to shift its position on matters, such as hysteria, for example, something that old Morel finds troubling. Just because the new regime chooses not to recognize something, does that mean that it stops existing?”
― Marcus Sedgwick, Mister Memory

“It’s the end of the world. That’s what it is. At least, it’s the end of the century. Here we are, months away from a new era, and what do we find? We have been cheated. Weren’t we promised everything? That fancy exhibition ten years ago, and now they will have another one, and what do we see? The electric light, the wonders of machinery, the wonders of science, technology and medicine, where are these things for the likes of you and me? When I retire I will be lucky to make ends meet. No motor cars for me, no luxuries. And here we are, the end of the century coming, and we have been cheated. That is what underlies this angst, my boy; it is anger and fear. Anger at what we do not have and fear that when the clock strikes twelve on the 31st of December, we will find that, lo and behold, we are no better off than we were in the previous century. Anger and fear, my boy. Anger and fear.”
― Marcus Sedgwick, Mister Memory