Writers obviously have to bear witness to the harsh face of the age. Alexander McCall Smith More Quotes by Alexander McCall Smith More Quotes From Alexander McCall Smith There was a distinction between lying and telling half-truths, but it was a very narrow one. Alexander McCall Smith distinction half lying The previously unloved may find it hard to believe that they are now loved; that is such a miracle, they feel; such a miracle. Alexander McCall Smith miracle may believe As a writer, I have readers who will have a range of political views. I don't think they look to me for political guidance. Alexander McCall Smith political views thinking As a writer I've learned certain lessons. One of them is to be careful about how you put a view, and to bear in mind how easily and readily you'll be misinterpreted. Alexander McCall Smith lessons views mind My parents were very supportive and always encouraged us. My father was a gentle, nice man. My mother was quite a colourful character and a keen reader who encouraged me to write. Alexander McCall Smith nice mother father I cannot see myself in a new car. I am a tiny white van person. That is what i want! Alexander McCall Smith car white want It is not enough just to identify a problem; there are plenty of people who were very skilled at pointing out what was wrong with the world, but they were not always so adept at working out how these things could be righted. Alexander McCall Smith work-out people world When you allow people to do what they wish, then that is what they do. They stop doing the things they need to do. Alexander McCall Smith wish people needs It would be wonderful to have a guru; it would be like having a social worker or a personal trainer, not that people who had either of these necessarily appreciated the advice they received. Alexander McCall Smith would-be advice people At night we are all strangers, even to ourselves. Alexander McCall Smith stranger night Lou knew that joy unshared was a halved emotion, just as sadness and loss, when borne alone, were often doubled. Alexander McCall Smith sadness loss joy We think the world is ours forever, but we are little more than squatters. Alexander McCall Smith forever world thinking I am easily persuaded to continue to have fun. Alexander McCall Smith having-fun fun But we make such mistakes all the time, all through our lives. Wisdom, I suppose, is seeing this and acting upon it before it is too late. But it is often too late, isn't it? - and those things that we should have said are unsaid, and remain unsaid for ever. Alexander McCall Smith acting should-have mistake Small things may be important to us; to be a sometime anything is sometimes something. Alexander McCall Smith important may sometimes Whatever Scotland was, it was not a matriarchy; whereas the United States was a profoundly matriarchal society - and much more feminine than would be suggested by all that male bravado. That was a front, and a misleading one at that; underneath the male swagger lay a passive acceptance of female dominance - a fact not always appreciated by outsiders. Alexander McCall Smith scotland dominance acceptance Everybody has friends they dislike; people who they have slipped into relationships with, people they would not have chosen had they been more cautious, more circumspect. Alexander McCall Smith cautious chosen people Dogs are in on our human silliness; lions are not. Alexander McCall Smith silliness lions dog A wedding was a strange ceremony, she thought, with all those formal words, those solemn vows made by one to another; whereas the real question that should be put to the two people involved was a very simple one. Are you happy with each other? was the only question that should be asked; to which they both should reply, preferably in unison, Yes. Alexander McCall Smith wedding real simple But you cannot expect every writer to dwell on human suffering. I think my books do deal with grave issues. People who say they are too positive probably havent read them. Alexander McCall Smith issues book thinking
