Even if you got rid of paper, you would still have story-tellers. In fact, you had the story-tellers before you had the paper.

We have a disharmony in our natures. We cannot live together without injuring each other.

How can you expect to be rescued if you don’t put first things first and act proper?

The thing is - fear can't hurt you any more than a dream.

I also know Patrick White in Australia, both personally and as a writer, and Salman Rushdie in India.

Maybe, he said hesitantly, maybe there is a beast. The assembly cried out savagely and Ralph stood up in amazement. You, Simon? You believe in this? I don't know, said Simon. His heartbeats were choking him. [...] Ralph shouted. Hear him! He's got the conch! What I mean is . . . maybe it's only us. Nuts! That was from Piggy, shocked out of decorum.

Maybe there is a beast… maybe it's only us.