The Colors of All the Cattle Quotes

“There are some very inventive adults, Mma. When you listen to them, you have to divide everything they say by two, and then take away ten. As you have to do with some politicians.”
― Alexander McCall Smith, The Colors of All the Cattle

“Life happens, she thought; whatever we do, life just happens.”
― Alexander McCall Smith, The Colours of all the Cattle

“Tea, thought Mma Ramotswe – no matter what was happening, no matter how difficult things became, there was always the tea break – that still moment, that unchangeable ritual, that survived everything, made normal the abnormal, renewed one’s ability to cope with whatever the world laid before one. Tea.”
― Alexander McCall Smith, The Colours of all the Cattle

“We don’t hate people, Puso. We don’t hate anybody.” He looked at her sullenly. “Why?” he asked. “Because hate makes you very tired,” said Mma Ramotswe. She wondered whether there was more to say, but suddenly she felt tired herself.”
― Alexander McCall Smith, The Colors of All the Cattle

“If only people could keep that in their minds—if they could remember that the people they met during the day had all the same hopes and fears that they had, then there would be so much less conflict and disagreement in this world. If only people remembered that, then they would be kinder to others—and kindness, Mma Ramotswe believed, was the most important thing there was. She knew that in the depths of her being; she knew it.”
― Alexander McCall Smith, The Colors of All the Cattle

“There was the Queen, and then there was Seretse Khama and our own people. That is called history, you see.” “But who asked them here?” The aunt shook her head. “There are some guests who do not knock.” “That is very rude.” “Yes,” said the aunt.”
― Alexander McCall Smith, The Colors of All the Cattle

“But please be careful—and never, never think that you are justified in doing something wrong just because you are trying to do something right.”
― Alexander McCall Smith, The Colors of All the Cattle

“If you punish somebody harshly, she said, then you are simply inflicting more pain on the world. You are also punishing not only that person, but his family and the people who love him. You are punishing yourself, really, because we are all brothers and sisters in this world, whether we know it or not; we are all citizens of the same village.”
― Alexander McCall Smith, The Colors of All the Cattle

“Charlie had indeed done something stupid. But this realisation only made her want to defend him. Of course young men did stupid things—it was part of being a young man”
― Alexander McCall Smith, The Colors of All the Cattle

“For that was a very special sort of love, she realised—love given back to one who loved you; that love was like the first rain, the longed-for rain, which washed away the pain and sadness of the world so that you forgot that those things had ever been there.”
― Alexander McCall Smith, The Colors of All the Cattle

“A flaky skin was particularly bad if you were a criminal, she had read, as it meant that you left a great deal of DNA at the scene of the crime. That had amused her. That would teach any flaky-skinned housebreakers to burgle people’s houses. “You really need to do something about your skin,” the police might say to such people when they arrested them.”
― Alexander McCall Smith, The Colors of All the Cattle

“What else do you need in life, Mma? You have a fine husband—which is one of the most important things that anybody can have.”
― Alexander McCall Smith, The Colors of All the Cattle

“She did not have strong views on politics. She did not like the confrontational nature of much political discussion; why could people not argue politely, she wondered, taking into account the views of others and accepting that people might differ with one another in perfectly good faith?”
― Alexander McCall Smith, The Colors of All the Cattle

“Mma Ramotswe had shaken her head and said, “There are many people these days who think that the sun goes round the moon.” That, thought Mma Makutsi, was a good way of putting it. Everybody knew that the moon went round the sun or…She had decided to ask Charlie, just to see whether somebody of his age would know about things like that. He had not hesitated to give his answer. “The sun goes sideways,” he said. “It goes from east to west. That’s the way the sun goes.” He had then said, “Everybody knows that, Mma; I am surprised you didn’t.”
― Alexander McCall Smith, The Colors of All the Cattle

“Tea, thought Mma Ramotswe—no matter what was happening, no matter how difficult things became, there was always the tea break—that still moment, that unchangeable ritual, that survived everything, made normal the abnormal, renewed one’s ability to cope with whatever the world laid before one. Tea.”
― Alexander McCall Smith, The Colors of All the Cattle

“And then something happened that had only happened once or twice before, but when it had done so, it had burned itself into her memory. Her father was there. Somehow, in a way known only to late people, he had slipped into the cab of the van and was seated beside her. Of course, she could not see him—not in the physical sense—but of his presence she had absolutely no doubt.”
― Alexander McCall Smith, The Colors of All the Cattle

“If only people remembered that, then they would be kinder to others—and kindness, Mma Ramotswe believed, was the most important thing there was. She knew that in the depths of her being; she knew it.”
― Alexander McCall Smith, The Colors of All the Cattle

“But she would not participate in that sort of thing, even if it meant that she lost the election. If you won on the basis of lies and false promises—bribes, really—then your victory would be a hollow one.”
― Alexander McCall Smith, The Colors of All the Cattle

“Mr. J.L.B. Matekoni warmed to the theme. “And you could have yet another list,” he said. “Things that other people should do, but don’t seem to be doing.” Mma Ramotswe thought for a while. “That could be a very long list,” she said. “There are many people who do not do what they should be doing.”
― Alexander McCall Smith, The Colors of All the Cattle

“Things I’ll never do. You would not feel uncomfortable reading that list, as you will have already admitted that these are things you do not want to do—and will not do.”
― Alexander McCall Smith, The Colors of All the Cattle

“And then,” Mma Potokwane continued, “you have a successful business. You have the two children. You have your Zebra Drive home. You have so much, Mma.” She looked at her friend with a touch of reproach. “You have nothing further to achieve, Mma. Nothing.”
― Alexander McCall Smith, The Colors of All the Cattle

“But it seemed to her that Mma Ramotswe needed persuading, and so she continued, “What else do you need in life, Mma? You have a fine husband—which is one of the most important things that anybody can have.”
― Alexander McCall Smith, The Colors of All the Cattle

“And then, when the inevitable mechanical failure occurred, rather than trying to understand what signs had been overlooked, he would bully the engine. There was no other word for it: he would bully it by removing bolts and nuts brutally;”
― Alexander McCall Smith, The Colors of All the Cattle

“Her voice rose in her refutation. “We are not corrupt, Rra.” “Yes,” he said enthusiastically. “That’s just the right thing to say, Mma. Just right. And anyway, this corruption nonsense—what are they talking about? Is it corruption to do whatever is necessary to make sure that important economic assets are constructed? Is it corrupt to make sure that jobs are created for people currently without work? Is that corrupt, Mma? If it is, then I would be proud to call myself corrupt. I would go out in the streets and say, Here is a corrupt man doing his best for the economy of Botswana. That is what I would say. I would say it openly, and with pride, Mma.”
― Alexander McCall Smith, The Colors of All the Cattle

“she did look remarkably like a chair—a great, accommodating upholstered armchair. You could certainly sit on Mma Potokwane and feel perfectly comfortable: she was the sort of chair into which one might sink after a hard day’s work—sink, and possibly not reappear until hours later, emerging from voluminous feather-filled cushions.”
― Alexander McCall Smith, The Colors of All the Cattle

“Mma Makutsi sighed. “You don’t understand, Charlie. The word chairman covers both men and women.” She paused. “Mind you, Mma Potokwane, many people these days just use the word chair. Perhaps you’d like—” She was not allowed to finish. “Certainly not, Mma,” said Mma Potokwane. “I am not a chair—I am a person.”
― Alexander McCall Smith, The Colors of All the Cattle

“We do not want people thinking that we’re trying to start a dynasty,” he explained. “You know how you get those politicians who are sons of other politicians and grandsons of even more politicians. I do not think that is very democratic, and so I shall not be involved in this campaign, even if I fully support it”
― Alexander McCall Smith, The Colors of All the Cattle

“You had to watch people—if you were not careful, all sorts of people would promote themselves well above their real station in life, causing nothing but confusion and uncertainty”
― Alexander McCall Smith, The Colors of All the Cattle

“Caution was always required when you looked under a bed—anybody’s bed, even your own.”
― Alexander McCall Smith, The Colors of All the Cattle