Quotes By Author: alan bennett

“The days weren’t long enough for the reading she wanted to do.”

“…to her all books were the same and, as with her subjects, she felt a duty to approach them without prejudice…Lauren Bacall, Winifred Holtby, Sylvia Plath – who were they? Only be reading could she find out.”

“[B]riefing is not reading. In fact it is the antithesis of reading. Briefing is terse, factual and to the point. Reading is untidy, discursive and perpetually inviting. Briefing closes down a subject, reading opens it up.”

“A book is a device to ignite the imagination.”

“I’m not “happy” but I’m not unhappy about it.”

“One recipe for happiness is to have to sense of entitlement.’ To this she added a star and noted at the bottom of the page: ‘This is not a lesson I have ever been in a position to learn.”

“How do I define history? It’s just one fucking thing after another”

“You don’t put your life into your books, you find it there.”