178 Quotes by Dorothy Dunnett

It was one of the occasions when Lymond asleep wrecked the peace of mind of more people than Lymond awake.

Did I ever tell you,’ said Lymond pausing on the afterthought, on his way to the flap, ‘that that aunt of mine once hatched an egg?’ He paused, deep in thought, and walked slowly to the door before turning again. His lordship of Aubigny, staring after the vanishing form of his brother, received the full splendour of Lymond’s smile. ‘It was a cuckoo,’ said Francis Crawford prosaically, and followed Lennox out.

And the English army, wheeling, started south at a gallop over the hill pass into Ettrick, followed by twenty men and eight hundred sheep in steel helmets.

Look up . . . and see them. The teaching stars, beyond worship and commonplace tongues.

Only common mortals like the Somervilles have good old rotten hates, dear,' said her mother. 'Sir Graham manages to love everybody and wouldn't know what you're talking about. Have a bun.' 'He doesn't love the Turks,' said Philippa. 'He kills them.' 'That isn't hate,' said Kate Somerville. 'That's simply hoeing among one's principles to keep them healthy and neat. I'm sure he would tell you he bears them no personal grudge; and they think they're going to Paradise anyway, so it does everyone good.

Man is a being of varied, manifold and inconstant nature. And woman, by God, is a match for him.

Early on, I received hundreds of letters every week from readers. Later, however, as groups began to organize, readers began writing to one another.

Your blasted Nanny should have taught you what mine did,’ said Lymond. ‘The things you enjoy most aren’t good for you.

One escapes; but one always has to come back. I found too I disliked not being in command of myself.