My God...it can think.

In silent films, quite complex plots are built around action, setting, and the actors gestures and facial expressions, with a very few storyboards to nail down specific plot points.

Pride is a sweetmeat, to be savoured in small pieces; it makes for a poor feast.

Most damning of phrases: He meant well.

When you're putting together a story, sometimes you just have to skip over the boring bits.

Ma'alesh; no matter; never mind; what can you do but accept things as they are? Ma'alesh, your pot overturned in the fire; ma'alesh, your prize mare died; ma'alesh, you lost all your possessions and half your family. The word was the everyday essence of Islam - which itself, after all, means "submission.

Men do, I've found, accept the most errant nonsense from a well dressed woman