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Quote by K.J. Parker

“But (he explained to me, when I objected) what the people want is something that looks at first sight like real life, but which actually turns out to be a fairy tale with virtue triumphant, evil utterly vanquished, a positive, uplifting message, a gutsy, kick-ass female lead and, if at all possible, unicorns. Also, I told him, what they want is something that looks new and completely original but is actually the same old story we've all known and loved since we were kids. Exactly, he said.”

Quote by K.J. Parker

Author

K.J. Parker, born in 1961, is a British author known for his unique style and profound philosophical insights. His works span across various literary genres, including fantasy, mystery, and science fiction. more

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“We have orphans, I know," pursued Mr Milvey, quite with the air as if he might have added, "in stock," and quite as anxiously as if there were great competition in the business and he were afraid of losing an order, "over at the clay-pits; but they are employed by relations or friends, and I am afraid it would come at last to a transaction in the way of barter.”

Humour Orphans Black Humour

Book:Our Mutual Friend

Source: Our Mutual Friend

“I feel I ought to be thankful for gaining so much, in competition with Mr and Mrs Boffin." (The good lady bitterly emphasized the first letter of the word Boffin, as if it represented her chief objection to the owners of that name, and as if she could have born Doffin, Moffin, or Poffin much better.)”

Humour Emphasis

Book:Our Mutual Friend

Source: Our Mutual Friend

“The estimable Twemlow, dressing himself in his lodgings over the stable-yard in Duke Street, Saint James’s, and hearing the horses at their toilette below, finds himself on the whole in a disadvantageous position as compared with the noble animals at livery. For whereas, on the one hand, he has no attendant to slap him soundingly and require him in gruff accents to come up and come over, still, on the other hand, he has no attendant at all; and the mild gentleman’s finger-joints and other joints working rustily in the morning, he could deem it agreeable even to be tied up by the countenance at his chamber-door, so he were there skilfully rubbed down and slushed and sluiced and polished and clothed, while himself taking merely a passive part in these trying transactions.”

Life Humour Horses

Book:Our Mutual Friend

Source: Our Mutual Friend

“Returning to the dining-room, and pausing for an instant behind the screen at the door, Eugene overhears, above the hum and clatter, the fair Tippins saying: "I am dying to ask him what he was called out for!" "Are you?" mutters Eugene, "then perhaps if you can't ask him, you'll die. So I'll be a benefactor to society, and go.”

Humour Black Humour Literal Meaning

Book:Our Mutual Friend

Source: Our Mutual Friend

“He read the letter, and faintly exclaimed "Dear me!" "You may well say Dear me!" rejoined Mrs Wilfer, in a deep tone. Upon which encouragement he said it again, though scarcely with the success he had expected; for the scornful lady then remarked, with extreme bitterness: "You said that before.”

Book:Our Mutual Friend

Source: Our Mutual Friend

“I don't know what happened, but in a pre-emptive strike, I'm offended on behalf of people who may have been offended even though that wasn't the intention. I'm also offended on behalf of people who may be allergic to apologies. Some people are probably offended by what I've written and I'm also offended on behalf of those people against myself.”

Humor Humour Satire Political Correctness Woke Social Commentary Zeitgeist Monty Python Taking Offense Overly Sensitive

Author:Stewart Stafford

“If happiness is a hardwired obsession in our brains, one should first and foremost learn to foster an upright quest for unvarnished wellbeing and above all not give in to vain temptations of displaying counterfeit contentment and fake smiling. (Digging for white gold »)”

Happiness Obsession Contentment Wellbeing Counterfeit Brains Temptations Hardwired Unvarnished Fake Smiling

Author:Erik Pevernagie

“I had an epiphany the other day at work when I realised it was all a complete and utter waste of time. This was not really an epiphany because I have them most days, especially when I have to sit through a particularly bureaucratic and torturous project governance meeting, but since my family think I have dementia, it technically was.”

History Humour Travel

Book:European Nonsense : The French Connection

Source: European Nonsense : The French Connection

“Through travel, I have come to appreciate that there are two types of people in the world - those that have a passion to see it, and those who struggle to find a reason to even leave their neighbourhood. This book is exclusively for the former - the restless spirits who believe that the best stories are found off the beaten path and that the only baggage worth carrying is the kind that fits in the overhead compartment. The people who believe that life's journey is not complete without a suitcase full of memories (and maybe a few questionable food decisions).”

Humour Travel Hiking

Book:Subcontinental Nonsense: Karachi to Kathmandu

Source: Subcontinental Nonsense: Karachi to Kathmandu

“Three pots of tea later, the scones were gone, we'd collapsed onto the living room furniture like fainting ladies from a Victorian painting”

Book:The Pact

Source: The Pact