Quotes by Iain Pears

His idleness was his refuge, and in this he was like many others in [occupied] France in that period; laziness became political.

For the first time, she did want more. She did not know what she wanted, knew that it was dangerous and that she should rest content with what she had, but she knew an emptiness deep inside her, which began to ache.

Felix had gone to live in a lotus land of his imagination. Where what is desired is dreamed of as already happened, where obstacles dissolve under the weight of desire, and where reality has vanished entirely.

Politics bores you? Bronsen said.Julien smiled. It does. Apologies, sir, and it is not that I havent tried to be fascinated. But careful and meticulous research has suggested the hypothesis that all politicians are liars, fools, and tricksters, and I have as yet come across no evidence to the contrary. They can do great damage, and rarely any good. It is the job of the sensible man to try and protect civilization from their depradations.

Diplomacy and virtue do not make easy companions.

Lying, he said out loud, hoping no one would hear. I need to lie. Teach me, quickly.I wouldnt if I were you, came the response. For a start, its a variable concept here. You are in a culture where ambiguity has been raised to a high level. Let me give an example: depending on phrasing, circumstance, expression, body movement, intonation and context, the statement I love you can mean I love you; I dont love you; I hate you; I want to have sex with you; I do, in fact, love your sister; I dont love you any more; leave me alone, Im tired, or Im sorry I forgot your birthday. The person being talked to would instantly understand the meaning but might choose to attribute an entirely different meaning to the statement. Lying is a social act and the nature and import of the lie depends in effect on an unspoken agreement between the parties concerned. Please note that this description does not even begin to explore the concept of deep lies, in which the speaker simultaneously says something he knows to be untrue and genuinely believes it nonetheless: politicians are particularly adept at this.

This is a perfectly good picture. And if I didnt know you, I would be impressed and charmed. But I do know you.He thought some more, wondering whether he dared say precisely what he felt, for he knew he could never explain exactly why the idea came to him. Its the painting of a dutiful daughter, he said eventually, looking at her cautiously to see her reaction. You want to please. You are always aware of what the person looking at this picture will think of it. Because of that youve missed something important. Does that make sense?She thought, then nodded. All right, she said grudgingly and with just a touch of despair in her voice. You win.Julien grunted. Have another go, then. I shall come back and come back until you figure it out.And youll know?Youll know. I will merely get the benefit of it.

A hundred francs! Oh, dear me! It is worth millions of francs, my child. But my -- dealer -- here tells me that in fact a picture is worth only what someone will give for it. How much money do you have?Julia took out her purse and counted. Four francs and twenty sous, she said, looking up at him sadly.Is that all the money you have in the world?She nodded.Then four francs and twenty sous it is.

In a world of chemically induced sanity, a little lunacy confers immense advantages.

The evil done by men of goodwill is the worst of all ... We have done terrible things, for the best of reasons, and that makes it worse.

He who profits by villainy, has perpetrated it.

She was looking for something I could never give her. Again his dark eyes bored into Julias mind. You have something of the same about you, young woman. Take my advice: Dont think you will find it in another person. You wont. Its not there. You must find it in yourself.

He (William Cort) had some desire to be successful, but it did not burn so strongly in him that he was prepared to overcome his character to achieve it.

Do you wish to speak in Provençal, French, or Latin? They are all I can manage, Im afraid.Any will do, the rabbi replied in Provençal.Splendid. Latin it is, said Pope Clement.

For, in his opinion, to study nature was a form of worship.

I learned that I have to be detached if I was ever to achieve anything at all.

[Pope] Clement waved his hands in irritation as if to dismiss the very idea. The world is crumbling into ruin. Armies are marching. Men and women are dying everywhere, in huge numbers. Fields are abandoned and towns deserted. The wrath of the Lord is upon us and He may be intending to destroy the whole of creation. People are without leaders and direction. They want to be given a reason for this, so they can be reassured, so they will return to their prayers and their obiediences. All this is going on, and you are concerned about the safety of two Jews?

Civilization depends on continually making the effort, of never giving in. It needs to be cared for by men of goodwill, protected from the dark.

Although of course I am aware that it changes colour in a jar. But we know why, surely? The heavier melancholic elements in the blood sink, making the top lighter and the bottom darker.Not so, I said firmly. Cover the jar, and the colour does not change. And I can find no explanation of how such separation could occur in the lungs. But when it emerges from the lungs - at least, this is the case in cats - it is very much lighter in colour than when it goes in, indicating that some darkness is withdrawn from it.I must cut up a cat and see for myself. A live cat, was it?It was for a while.

“[T]he concern of man is not his future but his present, not the world but his soul. We must be just, we must strive, we must engage ourselves with the business of the world for our own sake, because through that, and through contemplation in equal measure, our soul is purified and brought closer to the divine. ... Thought and deed conjoined are crucial. ... The attempt must be made; the outcome is irrelevant. Right action is a pale material reflection of the divine, but reflection it is, nonetheless. Define your goal and exert reason to accomplish it by virtuous action; successs or failure is secondary.”