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Florence King Quotes

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Famous Florence King Quotes

“The confidence and security of a people can be measured by their attitude toward laxatives. At the high noon of the British sun, soldiers in far-flung outposts of the Empire doctored themselves with "a spoonful o' gunpowder in a cuppa 'ot tea." Purveyors and users of harsh laxatives were not afraid of being thought mean and unfriendly just because their laxatives were. But in America, the need to be nice is so consuming that nobody would dare take a laxative that makes you run up the stairs two at a time, pushing others aside and yelling, "Get out of the way!”

PeopleWayNeedsMeanTwoRunningAmericaAttitudeSunNiceSecuritySoldierDareBritishTeaEmpiresPushingNot AfraidUsersBeing NiceHarshConsumingStairsNoonYellingGunpowderUnfriendly
Author:Florence King
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“Americans respect talent only insofar as it leads to fame, and we reserve our most fervent admiration for famous people who destroy their lives as well as their talent. The fatal flaws of Elvis, Judy, and Marilyn register much higher on our national applause meter than their living achievements. In Amerca, talent is merely a tool for becoming famous in life so you can become more famous in death - where all are equal.”

PeopleWellsTalentBecomingHigherFameEqualAchievementToolsFlawsAdmirationReservesApplauseRegisterMeterFerventFatal FlawsBecoming Famous
Author:Florence King
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“Misanthropes have some admirable if paradoxical virtues. It is no exaggeration to say that we are among the nicest people you are likely to meet. Because good manners build sturdy walls, our distaste for intimacy makes us exceedingly cordial "ships that pass in the night." As long as you remain a stranger we will be your friend forever.”

PeopleIfsLongNightFriendshipForeverVirtueRelationshipWallStrangerShipsMannersIntimacyParadoxGood ManGood PeopleExceedAdmirableExaggerationFriends ForeverParadoxicalGood MannersMisanthropyNice PeopleSturdyDistasteNicenessMisanthropeCordiality
Author:Florence King
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“There are so many different kinds of people in America, with so many different boiling points, that we don't know how to fight with each other. The set piece that shapes and contains quarrels in homogeneous countries does not exist here. The Frenchman is an expert on the precise gradations of espèce de and the Italian knows exactly when to introduce the subject of his other's grave, but no American can be sure how or when another will react, so we zap each other with friendliness to neutralize potentially dangerous situations.”

PeopleKnowsKindDoeDifferentCountryAmericaFightingSituationKnow HowPiecesSubjectsDangerousShapesGravesExpertsItalianDifferent KindsIntroducingPreciseQuarrelsBoilingFriendlinessFrenchmenHomogeneousDangerous SituationsEspBoiling Point
Book:Reflections In A Jaundiced Eye
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“Hereditary monarchy offers numerous advantages for America. It is the only form of government able to unify a heterogeneous people. Thanks to centuries of dynastic marriage, the family tree of every royal house is an ethnic grab bag with something for everybody. We need this badly; America is the only country in the world where you can suffer culture shock without leaving home. We can't go on much longer depending upon disasters like Pearl Harbor and the Iranian hostage-taking to "bring us together.”

PeopleWorldNeedsCountryHomeGovernmentAbleTogetherAmericaFormSufferingCultureHouseTreeCenturyGoes OnOffersAdvantageLeavingDisasterThanksShockBagsPearlsRoyalHarborsMonarchyForms Of GovernmentIranianHostageHereditaryLeaving HomeCulture Shock
Book:Reflections In A Jaundiced Eye
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“Learn to spot and avoid "writer groupies." The writer's self-sufficiency and our love for our work tend to attract insecure people who never can get enough love. They grow jealous of our work and come to regard it as a rival. These people can destroy you, so kick them out of your life or don't admit them in the first place.”

PeopleFirstsSelfEnoughGrowsRegardSpotsKicksJealousInsecureOur LoveRivalsSelf SufficiencySufficiencyGroupieEnough LoveInsecure People
Author:Florence King
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