“Surely there is something to be said for drawing a circle around our attention and remaining within that circle. But how large should this circle be?” ShouldSaidAttentionDrawingCircles Author:Zadie Smith
“- You look fine. - Right. I look fine. Except I don't, said Zora, tugging sadly at her man's nightshirt. This was why Kiki had dreaded having girls: she knew she wouldn't be able to protect them from self-disgust.” MenLooksSaidSelfAbleGirlFineProtectDisgustingTugging Author:Zadie Smith
“I don't ask myself what did I live for, said Carlene strongly. That is a man's question. I ask whom did I live for.” MenSaidAsks Book:On Beauty Source: On Beauty
“Jerome said, It's like, a family doesn't work anymore when everyone in it is more miserable than they would be if they were alone, You know?” IfsKnowsSaidWould BeMiserable Author:Zadie Smith
“Some people--Samad for example--will tell you not to trust people who overuse the phrase "at the end of the day"--football managers, estate agents, salesmen of all kinds--but Archie's never felt that way about it. Prudent use of said phrase never failed to convince him that his interlocutor was getting to the bottom of things, to the fundamentals.” PeopleWayKindSaidEndsUseFeltExampleFootballFundamentalsBottomAll KindsAgentsManagersPhrasesThe End Of The DayConvinceEstatesSalesmanPrudentEstate Agents Author:Zadie Smith
“Where I come from," said Archie, "a bloke likes to get to know a girl before he marries her." "Where you come from it is customary to boil vegetables until they fall apart. This does not mean," said Samad tersely, "that it is a good idea.” KnowsMeanDoeSaidIdeasFallGirlLikesVegetablesGood IdeasFalling ApartBlokesWhere You Come Book:White Teeth Source: White Teeth
“It seems to me,' said Magid finally, as the moon became clearer than the sun, 'that you have tried to love a man as if he were an island and you were shipwrecked and you could mark the land with an X. It seems to me it is too late in the day for all that.' Then he gave her a kiss on the forehead that felt like a baptism and she wept like a baby.” IfsMenSaidSeemsFeltSunLandBabyMoonKissingLateMarkIslandsToo LateForeheadsBaptism Book:White Teeth Source: White Teeth
“Under every friendship there is a difficult sentence that must be said, in order that the friendship can be survived.” SaidOrderDifficultSentencesSurvived Book:The Autograph Man: A Novel Source: The Autograph Man: A Novel
“Sometimes I think my whole professional life has been based on this hunch I had, early on, that many people feel just as muddled as I do, and might be happy to tag along with me on this search for clarity, for precision. I love that aspect of writing. Nothing makes me happier than to hear a reader say: that’s just what I’ve always felt, but you said it clearly.” PeopleThinkingFeelsWritingHas BeensSaidSometimesWholeMightFeltReaderAspectClarityPrecisionTagHunchesProfessional LifeFeels Just Author:Zadie Smith
“I remember so clearly, in the early days, if I had to do a piece of press, they'd phone for me and say, 'Oh, we're going to bring hair and makeup, it'll take about five hours.' And I said, 'Well, if it was Ian McEwan, would it take about five hours? Would there be hair and makeup? Cause if that's not the case, then don't bring the hair and makeup.' So, it's fascinating that they just assume: it's a young woman, she must want to be photographed for five hours. She must have nothing better to do than delight in trying on all your shoes. But it's not the case.” IfsWantTryingWellsSaidRememberYoungCausesHoursCasesFivePiecesHairPressesAssumingShoesPhonesDelightFascinatingMakeupYoung WomenHair And Makeup Author:Zadie Smith
