I went and looked at one of these great cathedrals one day, and I was blown away by it. From there I became interested in how cathedrals were built, and from there I became interested in the society that built the medieval cathedral. It occurred to me at some point that the story of the building of a cathedral could be a great popular novel.
Ken FollettPresident Wilson says a leader must treat public opinion the way a sailor deals with the wind, using it to blow the ship in one direction or another, but never trying to go directly against it.
Ken FollettIโve worked with volunteers before,โ he began. โItโs important not toโฆ not to treat them like servants. We may feel that they are laboring to obtain a heavenly reward, and should therefore work harder than they would for money; but they donโt necessarily take that attitude. They feel theyโre working for nothing, and doing a great kindness to us thereby; and if we seem ungrateful they will work slowly and make mistakes. It will be best to rule them with a light touch.
Ken FollettWhy was it, Lloyd wondered, that the people who wanted to destroy everything good about their country were the quickest to wave the national flag?
Ken FollettWeโre all good when it suits us, he used to say: that doesnโt count. Itโs when you want so badly to do something wrongโwhen youโre about to make a fortune from a dishonest deal, or kiss the lovely lips of your neighborโs wife, or tell a lie to get yourself out of terrible troubleโthatโs when you need the rules. Your integrity is like a sword, he would say: you shouldnโt wave it until youโre about to put it to the test.
Ken Follett