Quotessence
Home / Quotes / Quote by Alexander McCall Smith

Quote by Alexander McCall Smith

“The Culture of Complaint... We live in a culture of complaint because everyone is always looking for things to complain about. It's all tied in with the desire to blame others for misfortunes and to get some form of compensation into the bargain.”

Quote by Alexander McCall Smith

Book:The World According to Bertie
Create image

Work

The World According to Bertie

This book delves into the thoughts, feelings, and observations of Bertie, offering readers a glimpse into his world view and personal journey. more

Author

Alexander McCall Smith
Alexander McCall Smith

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. more

You May Also Like

“Daughters could survive a powerful mother, but boys found it almost impossible. Such boys were often severely damaged and spent the rest of their lives running away from their mothers, or from anybody who remotely reminded them of their mothers; either that, or they became their mothers, in a desperate, misguided act of psychological self defence.”

SelfRunningMotherFoundPowerfulBoysImpossibleDaughterPsychologicalDesperateRunning AwayDefenceMisguidedSelf Defence
Author:Alexander McCall Smith
Create image

“Pace is crucial. Fine writing isn't enough. Writing students can be great at producing a single page of well-crafted prose; what they sometimes lack is the ability to take the reader on a journey, with all the changes of terrain, speed and mood that a long journey involves. Again, I find that looking at films can help. Most novels will want to move close, linger, move back, move on, in pretty cinematic ways.”

WayWantWritingWellsLongSometimesEnoughHelpingFilmMovingAbilityNovelJourneyStudentsFineReaderPagesSpeedMoodProsePaceCrucialCinematicTerrainLong Journey
Author:Rose Tremain
Create image

“Just because something is invisible doesn't mean it isn't there. At any given time, there are a host of invisibles floating among us. There are clairvoyants to see ghosts; but who sees the invisible emotions, the unrecorded events? Who is that sees love, more evanescent than any ghost, let alone can catch it? Who are you tell me that I don't know what love is?”

KnowsMeanGivenLove IsEmotionEventsInvisibleGhostHostFloating
Book:The Woman Upstairs
Create image