Peter Adamson > Peter's Quotes

“In view of her penchant
for something romantic
DeSade is too trenchant
and Dickens too frantic
and Stendahl would ruin
the plan of attack
as there isn't much blue in
THE RED AND THE BLACK.

DeMaupassant's candor
would cause her dismay
The Brontes are grander
But not very gay
Her taste is much blander
I'm sorry to say
But is Hans Christian Andersen
ever risque?”
― Stephen Sondheim

“I briefly dated a software developer. We went to this wonderful restaurant a couple of times and had this delicious chicken with these diverse, tangy sauces—artichoke garlic aioli, Thai sweet chili—and we talked about whatever while I ate this chicken and dipped the pieces into the otherworldly sauces. Meanwhile I thought, God, I think I really like him. Then we went back again and had the same chicken and sauces—and I thought, God, I feel like I’m really falling for him. Then we went on a third date to a different restaurant and I suddenly realized—now that the chicken and sauces had been removed—he was kind of boring and it was just the tasty chicken that I loved. I looooooooooove chicken.”
― Molly Shannon, Hello, Molly!: A Memoir

“Nobody has the right to not be offended. That right doesn't exist in any declaration I have ever read.

If you are offended it is your problem, and frankly lots of things offend lots of people.

I can walk into a bookshop and point out a number of books that I find very unattractive in what they say. But it doesn't occur to me to burn the bookshop down. If you don't like a book, read another book. If you start reading a book and you decide you don't like it, nobody is telling you to finish it.

To read a 600-page novel and then say that it has deeply offended you: well, you have done a lot of work to be offended.”
― Salman Rushdie