Victor Canning > Quotes

“Without questions there are no answers. And without answers no truth, no progress, no future.”
― Victor Canning, The Crimson Chalice

“That day will come. But at the moment it is this day that has to be lived.”
― Victor Canning, The Crimson Chalice

“From each god his own way of revelation. And for each man his own way of marking the shadow which his god casts.”
― Victor Canning, The Crimson Chalice

“There were truths that grew between people which they could not know themselves until some sharp moment of destiny brought them to light.”
― Victor Canning, The Crimson Chalice

“Everything in life begins as a dream. That is how the gods speak to us. First the dream and then the reality. Believe that and work for it and then the gods are on your side.”
― Victor Canning, The Crimson Chalice

“They drank one another’s health like men who meet to part upon the dark paths of a great adventure.”
― Victor Canning, Mr Finchley Takes the Road

“Only silly people who never stop to think are afraid of death. It’s as stupid to talk of being scared of dying as it is to talk of being scared to be born. I like being alive, sir, and I mean to go on living as long as I can because this body is made to enjoy the things in this life, things like the sunshine on your hands and face and the smell of flowers and the sound of my old tabby cat purring away by the fire, but when I die I shall have another life and a different set of pleasures and pains.”
― Victor Canning, Mr Finchley Takes the Road

“and life, Mr. Finchley discovered, was nothing if it did not hold adventure and romance.”
― Victor Canning, Mr Finchley Discovers His England

“Life’s hard,” said Mr. Harricot slowly, “but it’s healthier that way. If you get what you wants too soon and too easy it only makes you dissatisfied with it.”
― Victor Canning, Mr Finchley Takes the Road

“Yes,” Mr. Finchley lied bravely. Theoretically his knowledge of car driving was complete. Actually, he knew as much about them as he did about women.”
― Victor Canning, Mr Finchley Discovers His England

“Forget”
― Victor Canning, How To Stop Smoking Marijuana: A Simple Approach To Stop Smoking Weed Without Feeling Like Shit

“As she did this Tia, eyeing the two who watched them, suddenly felt angry with them for their helplessness. She felt like shouting at them to wake and stir themselves from their apathy ... but then the feeling went. She saw a town burning, flames arching over the night sky, people screaming and shouting, panic reaching through the streets and houses and, somewhere, a small boy lost and frightened, crying for his parents. And she remembered her own panic, numbess and helplessness as Tulio and his wife had done everything for her, sending her blindly off into the night from her brother's burning villa.”
― Victor Canning, The Crimson Chalice

“If you have done a hard day’s work under a strong sun and then walked six miles the effect of two glasses of port, when the port is good, is such to marvel at.”
― Victor Canning, Mr Finchley Discovers His England

“He said this in a melancholy voice that gave Mr. Finchley the impression that were it not for the energy required to lie down and die, he would have done so on the spot.”
― Victor Canning, Mr Finchley Discovers His England

“if Romeo had lived to see Juliet grow old and develop a slight moustache upon her upper lip—what then?”
― Victor Canning, The Improvised Life of Polycarp Jarvis

“Hunger is the best sauce. When you always have regular meals, you lose your appreciation for food. Too much of a good thing spoils it.”
― Victor Canning, Mr Finchley Discovers His England