One of the stock Sydney jokes is of the census-taker who enquires: 'How many children have you, ma'am?' 'Two living and three in Melbourne.'

The great point about money was to convert it as quickly as possible into something you could use or enjoy.

How much does one imagine, how much observe? One can no more separate those functions than divide light from air, or wetness from water.

They [zebras] looked like highly varnished animated toys.

Only man is not content to leave things as they are but must always be changing them, and when he has done so, is seldom satisfied with the result.

Africa is cruel...it takes your heart and grinds it into powdered stone - and no-one minds

The best way to find out things, if you come to think of it, is not to ask questions at all. If you fire off a question, it is like firing off a gun; bang it goes, and everything takes flight and runs for shelter. But if you sit quite still and pretend not to be looking, all the little facts will come and peck round your feet, situations will venture forth from thickets and intentions will creep out and sun themselves on a stone; and if you are very patient, you will see and understand a great deal more than a man with a gun.