Most of the pleasure of making a book would go if it held nothing to be shared by other people. I would write for a few dozen people, and sometimes it seems that I do so, but I would not write for no-one. Ivy Compton-Burnett More Quotes by Ivy Compton-Burnett More Quotes From Ivy Compton-Burnett If I were not a child with my parents, they would be more unloving toward me. Ivy Compton-Burnett parent would-be children Civilized life exacts its toll. Ivy Compton-Burnett civilized tolls Anyone who picks up a Compton-Burnett finds it very hard not to put it down. Ivy Compton-Burnett compton picks hard I never agree with the compliments paid to it. It is not a great healer. It is an indifferent and perfunctory one. Sometimes it does not heal at all. And sometimes when it seems to, no healing has been necessary. Ivy Compton-Burnett healing doe sometimes At a certain point my novels set. They set just as hard as that jam jar. And then I know they are finished. Ivy Compton-Burnett certain jam jars some people always have a touch of youth about them. Ivy Compton-Burnett youth age people It is no good to think that other people are out to serve our interests. Ivy Compton-Burnett interest people thinking Ah, we have to be generous to be grateful ... One has oneself to be a giver. Ivy Compton-Burnett giver gratitude grateful We none of us talk to people as we do behind their backs. Ivy Compton-Burnett insincerity behinds people People have never lost what they think they have. Ivy Compton-Burnett loss people thinking it is in our minds that we live much of our life. Ivy Compton-Burnett our-lives mind It is better to be drunk with loss and to beat the ground, than to let the deeper things gradually escape. Ivy Compton-Burnett beats drunk loss Parents have too little respect for their children, just as the children have too much for the parents. Ivy Compton-Burnett parent littles children We can build upon foundations anywhere if they are well and firmly laid. Ivy Compton-Burnett foundation wells ifs Well, of course, people are only human... But it really does not seem much for them to be. Ivy Compton-Burnett wells doe people Real charity and real ability never to condemn-the one real virtue-is so often the result of a waking experience that gives a glimpse of what lies beneath things. Ivy Compton-Burnett real giving lying I think I feel on the whole that something's there trying to get out ... It's sort of trying to get out and wants help. Ivy Compton-Burnett want trying thinking Time is not a great healer. It is an indifferent and perfunctory one. Sometimes it does not heal at all. And sometimes when it seems to, no healing has been necessary. Ivy Compton-Burnett great healing time sometimes