the mute protest in your own bones

It's not so much staying alive, it's staying human that's important. What counts is that we don't betray each other.

For after all, what is there behind, except money? Money for the right kind of education, money for influential friends, money for leisure and peace of mind, money for trips to Italy. Money writes books, money sells them. Give me not righteousness, O lord, give me money, only money.

The more men you've had, the more I love you.

In places this book is a little over-written, because Mr Blunden is no more able to resist a quotation than some people are to refuse a drink.

It was almost normal for people over thirty to be frightened of their own children

The heresy of heresies was common sense.