You can't force folks to have good sense, even if they're family. Maybe especially then.

Murphy is a writer's best friend, but you have to keep an eye on him, or he'll steal the silver.

In short, if we wish to see anything sensible done about the situation, we will clearly have to do it ourselves.

Out here, it's better safe than sorry, because generally speaking, too much of the time sorry means you're dead.

Nine times out of ten, talking is a way of avoiding doing things.

There is nothing that is quite so reassuring in an awkward situation as knowing that one is well turned-out, and while I hope I am not so fainthearted as to require such stratagems, I am not so foolish as to overlook their value.

Well, of all the bacon-brained, sapskulled, squirish, buffle-headed nodcocks!