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"My mother's scheme of things admitted to much finer distinctions than were allowed by the sociologists. She'd talk about people being 'better class', 'well-off', 'nicely spoken', 'refined', 'educated', 'genuine', 'ordinary' and - the ultimate condemnation - 'common'.

"Every family has a secret, and the secret is that it's not like other families."

"My mother's scheme of things admitted to much finer distinctions than were allowed by the sociologists. She'd talk about people being 'better class', 'well-off', 'nicely spoken', 'refined', 'educated', 'genuine', 'ordinary' and - the ultimate condemnation - 'common'.