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Bill Bryson Quotes

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Bill Bryson, born on December 8, 1951, is a British author known for his humorous and knowledgeable writing. His works span across various fields, including travel literature, natural history, and science popularization.

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All Ifs People Science World Knows Kind Thinking Travel Way Littles

Famous Bill Bryson Quotes

“Because time moves more slowly in Kid World ... it goes on for decades ... It is adult life that is over in a twinkling.”

World Kids Moving Goes On Adults Decades Twinkling

Author:Bill Bryson

“Four times I was honked at for having the temerity to proceed through town without the benefit of metal.”

Walks Four Journey Walking Benefits Towns Wander Metals Hiking Trekking Strolling Sauntering

Book:A Walk In The Woods: The World's Funniest Travel Writer Takes a Hike

Source: A Walk In The Woods: The World's Funniest Travel Writer Takes a Hike

“Everything seems to be designed for the benefit of the automobile and not the benefit of the human being.”

Humans Seems Human Beings Benefits Automobile Malls Busier

Author:Bill Bryson

“He had the sort of face that makes you realize God does have a sense of humor.”

Doe Faces Realizing Sense Of Humor

Author:Bill Bryson

“By the time I had finished my coffee and returned to the streets, the rain had temporarily abated, but the streets were full of vast puddles where the drains where unable to cope with the volume of water. Correct me if I'm wrong, but you would think that if one nation ought by now to have mastered the science of drainage, Britain would be it.”

Ifs Thinking Would Be Nations Water Streets Ought Rain Finished Coffee Britain Volume Drains Puddles Drainage

Book:Notes From A Small Island: Journey Through Britain

Source: Notes From A Small Island: Journey Through Britain

“There is always a little more toothpaste in the tube. Think about it.”

Thinking Littles Tubes Toothpaste

Book:The Complete Notes

Source: The Complete Notes

“It is always quietly thrilling to find yourself looking at a world you know well but have never seen from such an angle before.”

Knows World Wells Finding Yourself Angle Thrilling

Book:At Home: A Short History of Private Life

Source: At Home: A Short History of Private Life

“Traveling makes you realize what an immeasurably nice place much of America could be if only people possessed the same instinct for preservation as they do in Europe.”

People Ifs America Realizing Nice Travel Europe Instinct Possessed Preservation

Book:The Lost Continent: Travels in Small-town America

Source: The Lost Continent: Travels in Small-town America

“Columbus real achievement was managing to cross the ocean successfully in both directions. Though an accomplished enough mariner, he was not terribly good at a great deal else, especially geography, the skill that would seem most vital in an explorer.”

Real Enough Seems America Deals Skills Achievement Ocean Discovery Crosses Accomplished Geography Explorers Columbus Mariners

Book:At Home: A Short History of Private Life

Source: At Home: A Short History of Private Life

“There is no reason why we shouldn't be able to split an infinitive, any more than we should forsake instant coffee and air travel because they weren't available to the Romans.”

Should Reason Able Air Available Coffee Reason Why Instant No Reason Splits Forsake Air Travel Instant Coffee Infinitive

Author:Bill Bryson

“A sign in the yard of a church next door said CHRIST IS THE ANSWER. (The question, of course, is: What do you say when you strike your thumb with a hammer?)”

Said Courses Next Christ Church Answers Doors Strikes Yards Hammers Thumbs Questions And Answers

Book:The Lost Continent: Travels in Small-town America

Source: The Lost Continent: Travels in Small-town America

“Clearly, some time ago makers and consumers of American junk food passed jointly through some kind of sensibility barrier in the endless quest for new taste sensations. Now they are a little like those desperate junkies who have tried every known drug and are finally reduced to mainlining toilet bowl cleanser in an effort to get still higher.”

Source: The Lost Continent: Travels in Small-town America

“Open your refrigerator door, and you summon forth more light than the total amount enjoyed by most households in the 18th century. The world at night, for much of history, was a very dark place, indeed.”

World Light Night Dark Doors Century Amount Enjoyed Household Refrigerators Dark Places 18th Century

Author:Bill Bryson

“I come from Des Moines. Someone had to.”

Des Moines

Author:Bill Bryson

“I'm definitely an American, because I grew up here. But I've lived very happily in Britain.”

Grew Grew Up Britain

Author:Bill Bryson

“I'm not funny in person. I mean I'm really not. I'm one of those people who always screw up anecdotes.”

People Mean Persons Screws Screw Ups Anecdotes

Author:Bill Bryson

“You don't need a science degree to understand about science. You just need to think about it.”

Thinking Needs Science Understanding Degrees

Author:Bill Bryson

About the Author

Born: December 8, 1951
Known for: Author
Quotes: 367

Books & Sources

A Short History of Nearly EverythingRelated source material

At Home: A Short History of Private LifeRelated source material

The Lost Continent: Travels in Small-town AmericaRelated source material

Neither here nor there: travels in EuropeRelated source material

In a Sunburned CountryRelated source material

A Walk in the Woods: Rediscovering America on the Appalachian TrailRelated source material

The Complete NotesRelated source material

I'm a Stranger Here Myself: Notes on Returning to America After Twenty Years AwayRelated source material

The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt KidRelated source material

Notes from a Small IslandRelated source material

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