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Anthony Burgess

Men are influenced by big loud empty words

Men are influenced by big loud empty words, styes which swell the eyelids and impede vision of the truth.

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Anthony Burgess

If the world is to be improved it must be by the exercise of individual charity.

If the world is to be improved it must be by the exercise of individual charity.

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Anthony Burgess

Every grain of experience is food for the greedy growing soul of the artist.

Every grain of experience is food for the greedy growing soul of the artist.

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Anthony Burgess

If you reject family… is there anything left for you?

If you reject family – which a mother holds together – as well as the ties of Church and State, is there anything left for you?

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Anthony Burgess

The important thing is to get yourself born.

The important thing is to get yourself born. You’re entitled to that. But you’re not entitled to life. Because if you were entitled to life, then the life would have to be quantified. How many years? Seventy? Sixty? Shakespeare was dead at fifty-two. Keats was dead at twenty-six. Thomas Chatterton at seventeen.

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Anthony Burgess

the only real reason for traveling is to learn that all people are the same.

I suppose the only real reason for traveling is to learn that all people are the same.

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Anthony Burgess

to protect and avenge the weak

Howarth began to see that, however much it was against one’s will and convictions, sides had to be taken, the dreary corrupt world of politics had to be entered by the good and dispassionate, to protect and avenge the weak. But one always entered too late.

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Anthony Burgess

For himself, thought Howarth, he did not particularly like Mrs Connor. He desired Mrs Connor, however.

‘But you like her, don’t you?’ asked Howarth. ‘You like Mrs Connor?’ For himself, thought Howarth, he did not particularly like Mrs Connor. He desired Mrs Connor, however.

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Anthony Burgess

Life is a wretched gray Saturday, but it has to be lived through.

Life is a wretched gray Saturday, but it has to be lived through.