Surprising Quotes - Page 29

• What is surprising is not that oppression should make its appearance only after higher forms of economy have been reached, but that it should always accompany them.

  Simone Weil

  Oppression, Appearance, Economics

  Simone Weil (2013). “Oppression and Liberty”, p.59, Routledge

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• The camembert with its venison scent defeats the Marolles and Limbourg dull smells; It spreads its exhalation, smothering the other scents under its surprising breath abundance.

  Emile Zola

  Food, Smell, Cooking

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• It's surprising how often history is decided by something as trival as bad shellfish.

  John Flanagan

  Shellfish, Decided

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• Whatcha doin', Freak Girl?" --------------------------- "What does it look like, brainiac?" I shot back, even surprising myself with the force of my jab. "I'll give you three guesses. No, wait. Don't strain yourself. Wouldn't want to hurt your head." I waved a flyer in his face, channeling my inner mean girl. "See these? I'm hanging them...on a...wall!" I spoke the last part slowly, as if addressing a dim-witted child. Which wasn't far off the mark, now that I thought about it. "With tape," I added, waving at the dispenser. "You know-sticky, sticky!

  Mari Mancusi

  Mean Girls, Hurt, Children

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• She stretched out her hand, saying, “Vernon! My dear, what a delightful surprise!” “What’s surprising about it?” he enquired, lifting his black brows. “Didn’t you ask me to come?” The smile remained pinned to Lady Buxted’s lips, but she replied with more than a touch of acidity: “To be sure I did, but so many days ago that I supposed you had gone out of town!” “Oh, no!” he said, returning her smile with one of great sweetness.

  Georgette Heyer

  Hands, Black, Gone

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• The world could bring you poison in a jewelled cup, or surprising gifts. Sometimes you didn't know which of them it was.

  Guy Gavriel Kay

  Poison, World, Cups

  Guy Gavriel Kay (2010). “Under Heaven”, p.18, Penguin

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• Orion sniffed. "Good. Then, worthy centaur, perhaps you could give me a ride to the village on your way back. Then I can make a few pennies wth my verses while you build us a shack and perform circus tricks for passersby." This was such a surprising statement that Foaly briefly considered jumping into the hole to get away.

  Eoin Colfer

  Jumping, Giving, Orion

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• Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered weak and weary, O’er a plan to venge myself upon that cursed Thursday Next- This Eyre affair, so surprising, gives my soul such loath despising, Here I plot my temper rising, rising from my jail of text. “Get me out!” I said, advising, “Pluck me from this jail of text- or I swear I’ll wring your neck!

  Jasper Fforde

  Jail, Giving, Soul

  "The Eyre Affair: Thursday Next". Book by Jasper Fforde, May 1, 2009.

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• There isn’t any particular relationship between the messages, except that the author has chosen them carefully, so that, when seen all at once, they produce an image of life that is beautiful and surprising and deep. There is no beginning, no middle, no end, no suspense, no moral, no causes, no effects. What we love in our books are the depths of many marvelous moments seen all at one time.

  Kurt Vonnegut

  Love, Beautiful, Book

  KURT VONNEGUT JR (1969). “SLAUGHTERHOUSE FIVE”

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• it is a surprising thing that the largest city in the world should have a population as gentle and pleasant and intimate and considerate and comforting as a little bit of a place where everybody knows everybody and everything, but astonishing or not it is perfectly true and the inhabitants of New York are just like that, and they are like that and this thing is a delightful, natural and gentle and sweet and comforting thing.

  Gertrude Stein

  Sweet, New York, Should Have

  Gertrude Stein (1974). “How Writing Is Written”

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• Welly, welly, welly, welly, welly, welly, well. To what do I owe the extreme pleasure of this surprising visit?

  Anthony Burgess

  Orange, Pleasure, Wells

  Stanley Kubrick, Anthony Burgess (1972). “A clockwork orange”, HarperCollins Publishers

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• The consideration and kindness shown by unfortunates to each other are surprising to those who have no experience with this class of men. Often to find real sympathy you must go to those who know what misery means.

  Clarence Darrow

  Kindness, Real, Mean

  Clarence Darrow (2015). “Crime: Its Cause and Treatment”, p.127, Sheba Blake Publishing

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• If we mammals don't get something to eat every day or two, our temperature drops, all our signs fall off, and we begin to starve. Living at biological red alert, it's not surprising how obsessed we are with food; I'm just amazed we don't pace and fret about it all the time.

  Diane Ackerman

  Fall, Two, Mammals

  Diane Ackerman (2011). “Moon By Whale Light: And Other Adventures Among Bats,Penguins, Crocodilians, and Whales”, p.77, Vintage

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• Shakespeare says, we are creatures that look before and after; the more surprising that we do not look around a little, and see what is passing under our very eyes.

  Thomas Carlyle

  Eye, Looks, Littles

  Sartor Resartus Book I, Chapter 1

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• It is almost as if happiness is an acquired taste, like coconut cordial or ceviche, to which you can eventually become accustomed, but despair is something surprising each time you encounter it.

  Daniel Handler

  Happiness, Despair, Acquired Taste

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• A flood of emotions rushes into me. Pain and anger. Sadness and pity. But most surprising of all, hope.

  Jay Asher

  Pain, Anger, Sadness

  Jay Asher (2011). “Thirteen Reasons Why”, p.288, Penguin

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• Minnesotans who bought scenic art usually avoided winter scenes. Hannah didn't find that surprising. Minnesota winters were long. Why would they want to buy a painting that would constantly remind them of the bone-chilling cold, the heavy snow that had to be shoveled, and the necessity of dressing up in survival gear to do nothing more than take out the garbage?

  Joanne Fluke

  Art, Winter, Dressing Up

  Joanne Fluke (2011). “Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder”, p.120, Kensington Books

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• It is axiomatic among writers that no one ever sues the writer of an unsuccessful book. Just let a book go over twenty-five thousand copies and it is surprising how many people's feelings are hurt, how many screwballs think their brain children have been stolen, and how many people feel that they have been portrayed in a manner calculated to bring infamy upon them.

  Margaret Mitchell

  Hurt, Children, Book

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• In The Moon, Come to Earth Philip Graham takes us on the best kind of journey, as he simultaneously reveals the fascinating city of Lisbon--its neighborhoods, its writers, its customs, its cuisine--and offers an intimate portrait of his beloved family. With his far-reaching intellect Graham is the ideal travelling companion, and The Moon, Come to Earth is a beautiful and surprising book.

  Margot Livesey

  Beautiful, Book, Moon

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• With respect to duels, indeed, I have my own ideas. Few things in this so surprising world strike me with more surprise. Two little visual spectra of men, hovering with insecure enough cohesion in the midst of the unfathomable, and to dissolve therein, at any rate, very soon, make pause at the distance of twelve paces asunder; whirl around, and simultaneously by the cunningest mechanism, explode one another into dissolution; and, offhand, become air, and non-extant--the little spitfires!

  Thomas Carlyle

  Distance, Insecure, Men

  Thomas Carlyle (2015). “Sartor Resartus: The Life and Opinions of Herr Teufelsdrockh”, p.161, The Floating Press

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• It is not surprising that Venice is known above all for mirrors and glass since Venice is the most narcissistic city in the world, the city that celebrates self-mirroring.

  Erica Jong

  Glasses, Mirrors, Self

  Erica Jong (2013). “Shylock's Daughter: A Novel of Love in Venice”, p.7, Open Road Media

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• Symbols and emblems were everywhere. Buildings and pictures were designed to be read like books. Everything stood for something else; if you had the right dictionary, you could read Nature itself. It was hardly surprising to find philosophers using the symbolism of their time to interpret knowledge that came from a mysterious source.

  Philip Pullman

  Book, Symbolism, Philosopher

  Philip Pullman (1995). “Northern lights”

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• The next thing I knew I was listening to five people shouting. What was that all about, anyway?” (Luke) “Nothing,” chorused Clary, Simon, Alec, Magnus, and Jace in surprising and probably never-to-be-repeated unison. -pg.243-

  Cassandra Clare

  People, Listening, Next

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• I think you're intelligent and charming, and that you're a person with a kind heart. I know that when you want to, you can look more beautiful than anyone I've ever met. You're independent, you've got a good sense of humor, and you show surprising patience with children." -Alex

  Nicholas Sparks

  Beautiful, Children, Heart

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• Drama and comedy, to me ,are all about being surprising, coherent, and true, all at once.

  Tim Blake Nelson

  Drama, Comedy

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