Like all really strong-minded women, on whom everybody flops, she adored being bossed about. It was so restful.

I saw something nasty in the woodshed.

There have always been Starkadders at Cold Comfort Farm

She liked Victorian novels. They were the only kind of novel you could read while eating an apple.

The life of a journalist is poor, nasty, brutish, and short. So is his style

He was, she reflected, almost rudely like a tortoise; and she was glad her friend kept none as pets or they might have suspected mockery.

Nature is all very well in her place, but she must not be allowed to make things untidy.

Happiness can never hope to command so much interest as distress.

I do not object to the phenomena, but I do object to the parrot.

That would be delightful,' agreed Flora, thinking how nasty and boring it would be.

Surely she had endured enough for one evening without having to listen to intelligent conversation?

I could give him business cards...multi-camoflauge background. David, woodworker, amateur computer coder, and decoder extraordinaire, " Lily daydreamed."Coder and decoder, " Anna chuckled.

There is nothing better than the encouragement of a good friend.

Discontent, blaming, complaining, self-pity cannot serve as a foundation for a good future, no matter how much effort you make.

The young disease, that must subdue at length, Grows with his growth, and strengthens with his strength.

A boy has never wept...nor dashed a thousand kin

Don't Seek Happiness. If you seek it, you won't find it, because seeking is the antithesis of happiness

I know there's life after the Olympics.

I played a role. That is what actors do. But I played it too well. I went too far. And by the time I wanted to stop, to take a bow and leave the stage, it was too late.

While listening, to things like western swing, for instance, I'd work something out in my head, then play it on my National; not the same song, but one that captured the feeling of the original tune.

I've decided to make my main priority for the next two years not playing the violin, but training for the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia.