Home / Authors / Alexander McCall Smith

Alexander McCall Smith

Alexander McCall Smith Quotes

Writer

Alexander McCall Smith, born on August 24, 1948, is a renowned Scottish writer known for his light-hearted and thoughtful writing style. His most famous works include the 'The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency' series, which has gained him a wide readership around the world.

Filter quotes by topic

All Alexander Mccall Smith People Love Thinking Men World Ifs Should Life Writing Book Humans Want Way Acceptance Character Kindness Looks Moral Wells

Famous Alexander McCall Smith Quotes

“The people with the strong, brave exteriors are just as weak and vulnerable as the rest of us. And of course they never admit to their childish practices, their moments of weakness or absurdity, and then the rest of us think that's how it should be.”

People Thinking Should Moments Courses Strong Practice Weakness Weak Brave Vulnerable Absurdity Exterior Moments Of Weakness

Book:Love Over Scotland

Source: Love Over Scotland

“But we make such mistakes all the time, all through our lives. Wisdom, I suppose, is seeing this and acting upon it before it is too late. But it is often too late, isn't it? - and those things that we should have said are unsaid, and remain unsaid for ever.”

Should Said Acting Mistake Our Lives Seeing Late Should Have Too Late Life Wisdom Unsaid

Book:Love Over Scotland

Source: Love Over Scotland

“A wedding was a strange ceremony, she thought, with all those formal words, those solemn vows made by one to another; whereas the real question that should be put to the two people involved was a very simple one. Are you happy with each other? was the only question that should be asked; to which they both should reply, preferably in unison, Yes.”

People Should Made Two Real Simple Strange Involved Wedding Formal Ceremony Vow Solemn Real Questions Unison

Book:The Saturday Big Tent Wedding Party

Source: The Saturday Big Tent Wedding Party

“I have always taken the view that one should never hold against a man anything he says after twelve o'clock at night or after a glass or two of anything.”

Men Should Two Night Views Taken Glasses Clock Twelve

Book:Espresso Tales

Source: Espresso Tales

“There are many women whose lives would be immeasurably improved by widowhood, but one should not always point that out.”

Should Would Be Widowhood

Book:Espresso Tales

Source: Espresso Tales

“If your ceiling should fall down, then you have lost a room, but gained a courtyard. Think of it that way.”

Ifs Thinking Way Should Fall Lost Rooms Falling Down Ceilings

Book:The Right Attitude to Rain

Source: The Right Attitude to Rain

“We should be careful of the insults we fling at others, lest they return and land at our feet, newly minted to apply to those who had first coined them.”

Life Should Firsts Feet Land Return Careful Insult Be Careful Fling

Author:Alexander McCall Smith

“That of all people, it should be him; that took her aback. That the heart should settle on somebody like him; that surprised her. But she was so certain about it, so certain.”

People Love Should Heart Certain Settling

Book:Dream Angus: The Celtic God of Dreams

Source: Dream Angus: The Celtic God of Dreams

“They're very beautiful, aren't they? Clouds are very beautiful and yet so often we fail to appreciate them properly. We should do that. We should look at them and think about how lucky we are to have them.”

Thinking Should Looks Beautiful Failing Lucky Appreciate Clouds Very Beautiful

Author:Alexander McCall Smith

About the Author

Born: August 24, 1948
Known for: Writer
Quotes: 270

Related Topics

Alexander Mccall Smith People Love Thinking Men World Ifs Should Life Writing Book Humans Want Way Acceptance Character Kindness Looks Moral Wells

Popular Topics

People Ifs Thinking Knows Men World Way Want Love Life Inspirational Needs Giving Feels Should Writing Trying Years Mind Firsts

Books & Sources

The Woman Who Walked in SunshineRelated source material

The No. 1 Ladies' Detective AgencyRelated source material

At the Reunion BuffetRelated source material

The Sunday Philosophy ClubRelated source material

Love Over ScotlandRelated source material

Espresso TalesRelated source material

The Novel Habits of HappinessRelated source material

The Right Attitude to RainRelated source material

In the Company of Cheerful LadiesRelated source material

Morality for Beautiful GirlsRelated source material

Similar Authors

Madonna CicconeBrowse related quotes
Paul AusterBrowse related quotes
David SedarisBrowse related quotes
George SaundersBrowse related quotes
Angelina JolieBrowse related quotes
Stephen KingBrowse related quotes
Salman RushdieBrowse related quotes
Neil GaimanBrowse related quotes
Robert GreeneBrowse related quotes
Donald MillerBrowse related quotes