Quotes by Australian Authors - Page 56

The basic human craving is for meaning.
Colin Argyle Thomson
And it was only then that I realized what I had let myself in for, and only then I realized how bloody thick I had been not to have predicted it. It would seem that the combination of elements--woman, desert, camels, aloneness--hit some soft sport in this era's passionless, heartless, aching psyche. It fired the imaginations of people who seem themselves as alienated, powerless, unable to do anything about a world gone mad. And wouldn't it be my luck to pick just this combination. The reaction was totally unexpected and it was very, very weird. I was now public property. I was now a kind of symbol. I was now an object of ridicule for small-minded sexists, and I was a crazy, irresponsible adventurer (though not as crazy as I would have been had I failed). But worse than all that, I was now a mythical being who had done something courageous and outside the possibilities that ordinary people could hope for. And that was the antithesis of what I wanted to share. That anyone could do anything. If I could bumble my way across a desert, then anyone could do anything. And that was true especially for women, who have used cowardice for so long to protect themselves that it has become a habit.
Robyn Davidson
But then what is the alternative to trying to tell the truth about the Holocaust, the Famine, the Armenian genocide, the injustice of dispossession in the Americas and Australia? That everyone should be reduced to silence? To pretend that the Holocaust was the work merely of a well-armed minority who didn’t do as much harm as is claimed-and likewise, to argue that the Irish Famine was either an inevitability or the fault of the Irish-is to say that both were mere unreliable rumors, and not the great motors of history they so obviously proved to be. It suited me to think so at the time, but still I believe it to be true, that if there are going to be areas of history which are off-bounds, then in principle we are reduced to fudging, to cosmetic narrative.
Thomas Keneally
As has been long observed, men are people, but women are women.
Cordelia Fine
You have to learn where your weaknesses end and your strengths starts or you will spend your life focusing on all that falls apart.
Nikki Rowe
A woman can never be late when she is meeting with a man. But a man can most certainly be late when he is meeting with a woman.
S.A. Tawks
I am compelled into this country.
Patrick White
Helicopter parents. Before I started at Pirriwee Public, I thought it was an exaggeration, this thing about parents being overly involved with their kids. I mean, my mum and dad loved me, they were, like, interested in me when I was growing up in the nineties, but they weren't, like, obsessed with me.
Liane Moriarty
A fight needs at least two fighters. Sometimes you can win straight away by not fighting.
S.A. Tawks
Fundamental to a radical and lesbian feminist politics is the understanding that 'the personal is political'. This phrase has two interrelated meanings. It means that the political power structures of the 'public' world are reflected in the private world. Thus, for women in particular, the 'private' world of heterosexuality is not a realm of personal security, a haven from a heartless world, but an intimate realm in which their work is extracted and their bodies, sexuality and emotions are constrained and exploited for the benefits of individual men and the male supremacist political system. The very concept of 'privacy' as Catharine MacKinnon so cogently expresses it, 'has shielded the place of battery, marital rape, and women's exploited labor'. But the phrase has a complementary meaning, which is that the 'public' world of male power, the world of corporations, militaries and parliaments is founded upon this private subordination. The edifice of masculine power relations, from aggressive nuclear posturing to take-over bids, is constructed on the basis of its distinctiveness from the 'feminine' sphere and based upon the world of women which nurtures and services that male power. Transformation of the public world of masculine aggression, therefore, requires transformation of the relations that take place in 'private'. Public equality cannot derive from private slavery.
Sheila Jeffreys
We're on the brink of an Adventure. Don't spoil it by asking questions!
P.L. Travers
I never thought meeting you would be this boring. I thought we'd put our Italian emotion into gear and scream the place down. I never expected indifference.
Melina Marchetta
And the stars: the sky gets crowded at night, and it is a bit like watching a clock, seeing the constellations slide across the sky. It’s comforting to know that they’ll show up, however bad the day has been, however crook things get. That used to help in France. It put things into perspective—the stars had been around since before there were people. They just kept shining, no matter what was going on. I think of the light here like that, like a splinter of a star that’s fallen to earth: it just shines, no matter what is happening. Summer, winter, storm, fine weather. People can rely on it.
M.L Stedman
Once a woman is comfortable in her own skin, living her own life and building a foundation by herself; it takes one heck of a man to make her want to sacrifice her independence.
Nikki Rowe
Acting with confidence, but inside lacking certainty, I'd told her I could.
S.A. Tawks
I live precariously through my characters - so I want them to be loved passionately, live vibrantly, love unconditionally. Make friends they would die for - Explore unimaginable possibilities from all warps of life. And to never forget those that held their hands when life got scary. Wiped their tears away after a broken heart. Helped them back on their feet when others let them down. I want my characters to have family and friends - just like mine :)
Patti Roberts
There is general agreement that red meat consumption increases the risk of colon or colorectal cancer. This was the only food association with cancer that was labeled ‘‘convincing’’ in the recent report from the World Cancer Research Fund, American Institute for Cancer Research (42). The evidence, of course, largely came from studies of meat consumption in nonvegetarians, although data from Adventist vegetarians in California concur (43).
Gary E. Fraser
You come to work every day but you hardly get to know anyone. I don't even know the names of half the people I see in the elevators. They say the company is a big family, but I don't know them. And even the people I do, like you two, and Elizabeth, and Roger - do I really? I mean, I like you guys, but we only ever talk about work. When I'm out with friends, or at home, I never talk about work. The other day, I tried to explain to my sister why it's such a huge deal that Elizabeth ate Roger's donut, and she thought I was insane. And you know what, I agreed with her. At home I couldn't even think why it mattered. Because I'm a different person at home. When I leave this place at night, I can feel myself changing. Like shifting gears in my head. And you guys don't know that; you just know what I'm like here, which is terrible, because I think I'm better away from work. I don't even like who I am here. Is that just me? Or is everyone different when they come to work? If they are, then what are they really like? How can we ever know? All we know are the Work People.
Max Barry
True friendship is worth more than can be measured, a quality forever to be treasured.True friends will staunchly stand beside each other,as loyally brother shieldeth brother,remaining firm in spite of war and strife,in poverty or sickness, throughout life.True friendship doth endure while comrades agefrom boy to youth, from warrior to sage.
Cecilia Dart-Thornton
And as she fell apart, her shattered pieces began to bloom — blossoming until she became herself exactly as she was meant to be...
Becca Lee
Live your life with courageousintegrity. Do the right thing,not the easy thing.
Domonique Bertolucci
He was the most complicated beautiful mess I'd ever seen and if this is what you feel, when you've met someone that is about to change your entire world; than I dare not hide myself away from it.
Nikki Rowe
She always, She always wanted to express herself but no one cared,So she stopped,She was crushed,Stiff & lifeless,Like everything else.
Truth Devour
None of us can accomplish our dreams without the help of others. Is it more important for you to feel superior and self-sufficient than to accomplish your dreams within a community of supporters?
Nick Vujicic
Molly: So how do you think of Bryce Hamilton crowd so far? Boys hot enough for you?Bethany: I wouldn't say hot. Most of them seem to have a normal body temperature.
Alexandra Adornetto
My father said to remember your enemies as well as your friends, and don't trust either of them.
Steven Herrick
Why do men always have such high opinions of their cock?
Amy Andrews
If you do not take the time to be with yourself, in your own space, you miss Plugging In to the Universe and connecting with yourself. Moreover, in that you miss recognizing all your ‘angels’ or people who will nourish and nurture your life and you theirs.
Malti Bhojwani
I think I love you, Bennett. Probably not relevant at the moment so no need to say thanks.
Helene Young
He’d gone too far. He didn’t usually talk to women so frankly. Not with them both fully clothed anyway.
Amy Andrews
Her eyes narrowing, she turned her attention back to where Stephanie stood with Ben, feeling her own pain turn to intense fury. “Dominic knew her so damn well because he was usually thinking the same thing. She was his female version – two halves fitting perfectly together,” Gena spat out, anger inflected in her voice. “Like him, she’s reckless and like him, once she gets something into her head nothing or no one will change her mind.” Her fury revealed itself in her eyes, as she spat out, “And, like him, she’s going to get herself killed.” - Gena Evans, Nowhere to Run
Nina D'Angelo
I just have to make it to the Tuichi' I mumbled to myself, 'I just have to make it to the Tuichi'.Alone, deep in the jungle, so small and insignificant, pitted against nature, still I sensed someone was watching me. Or watching over me.Someone could see me, someone was providing for me
Yossi Ghinsberg
The aim of the taper is to minimise accumulated fatigue and fill up the fuel stores to arrive at the start line fresh.
Dan Golding
I would follow in your footsteps if I wasn't so busy making my own.
Truth Devour
WAR CHILD is the true story of Magdalena (Leni) Janic whose name appears on The Welcome Wall at Sydney's Darling Harbour. The story spans 100 years starting in pre WWII Nazi Germany and ends in the suburbs of Adelaide. It's a window into what life was like for a young illegitimate German girl growing up in poverty, coping with ostracism, bullying, abuse and dispossession as society was falling down around her and she becomes a refugee. But it's also a story of a woman's unconditional love for her family, the sacrifices she made and secrets she kept to protect them. Her ultimate secret was only revealed in a bizarre twist after her death and much to her daughter's (and author) surprise involved her. A memorable tear-jerker! A sad cruel story told with so much love.
Annette Janic
You could have done something with newspapers. We didn't do it. No nation did, because we were all too silly. We liked our newspapers with pictures of beach girls and headlines about cases of indecent assault, and no Government was wise enough to stop us having them that way. But something might have been done with newspapers, if we'd been wise enough.
Nevil Shute
You are in love with your own reflection of the universe.
Phoebe Garnsworthy
An adventurer has a purpose. Such as finding new lands and valuable treasures. A misadventurer, besides doing it for the hell of it and for a good time, doesn't really have a good purpose.
S.A. Tawks
Like a wild flower; she spent her days, allowing herself to grow, not many knew of her struggle, but eventually all; knew of her light.
Nikki Rowe
There is no such thingas ‘no choice’. There arealways other options.Explore yours.
Domonique Bertolucci
They sit beside each other on one of the sofas, Warwick leaning forward with his elbows on his knees, Joanne resting back with her arms behind her head. Never known as advocates of establishmentarianism, they have been applauded, ridiculed, and misunderstood by the media, and, in particular, criticized for their avarice. They have agreed to do this interview without "cabbage" (payment), but generally charge ten to twenty thousand dollars for the privilege. Even so, why should they be castigated for exploiting a medium that has exploited them? They see the situation simply enough: quid pro quo, and hold the mustard.
Antonella Gambotto-Burke
Not all were joyful tales; we needed to acknowledge that love was not just kisses, smiles, and fulfillment, but also sacrifice, compromise, and hard work.
Juliet Marillier
Hello, Mary.'It was like hearing a note of divine calm after a dissonant passage of music. My confusion died away.
Jennifer Paynter
I've been born into a broken world and my purpose is to make sure when I leave it, know I have left my mark of kindness on it somewhere.
Nikki Rowe
Lighting a cigarette with a sense of achievement for company made the journey worth it.
S.A. Tawks
Awareness is that which is reading these words right now, whatever “that” is. You know without a doubt that there is something reading these words right now and awareness is precisely what that is.
Enza Vita
There's no requirement that jobs be meaningful. If there was, half the country would be unemployed.
Max Barry
The bonding of women that is woman-loving, or Gyn/affection, is very different from male bonding. Male bonding has been the glue of male dominance. It has been based upon recognition of the difference men see between themselves and women, and is a form of the behaviour, masculinity, that creates and maintains male power… Male comradeship/bonding depends upon energy drained from women.
Sheila Jeffreys
To survive one tragedy was to learn you cannot survive them all, and this knowledge was both a freedom and a great loss.
Chris Womersley
How I’d managed to sit still for the majority of the conversation and be controlled, without ripping my knickers off, throwing them over my head and swinging my bra around my fingers in a come and get me gesture, I had no idea.
Kristy Berridge
There are few things more discomfiting than a spontaneous outburst of genuine decency from someone you’re determined to dislike for no good reason.
Gregory David Roberts
This is what I want you all to do. I want you to open a new document and type up a list of three problems in your life. Not the universe's life - your own. Underneath, type the solutions.""If we know the solutions," said Belle, "they're not problems.""Exactly," said Denny. "You do know the answers to most of your problems. Somewhere deep inside, you know.
Jaclyn Moriarty
Libraries are reservoirs of strength, grace and wit, reminders of order, calm and continuity, lakes of mental energy, neither warm nor cold, light nor dark ... In any library in the world, I am at home, unselfconscious, still and abso
Germaine Greer
It’s difficult for me to imagine the rest of my life without you. But I suppose I don’t have to imagine it... I just have to live it
Ranata Suzuki
He peppers kisses all over my face. “It’s like… I breathe you babe. There is no other way to explain it.
Chantal Fernando
Feelings are feelings, no matter when they happen. Our bodies don't stop being ours just because worse things happen to other people.
Foz Meadows
I wrenched open the windows. I stood while the cold air poured around my face like dark water, as if I was a rock and it was chiselling me into a new shape.
Sue Woolfe
Strength without compassion is soulless and cruel. Weakness, too, has its place, for it brings understanding.
Isobelle Carmody
Entrust your dreams and goals to people who will cheer you on and inspire you, who will tell you what you need to hear rather than what you want to hear so you can move forward and fast track.
Rachael Bermingham
I once spent a weekend on Earth,With two men (of science; and god)One man convinced me I did not exist,And the other that I was a fraud.In both men I saw the same reason,In bothmen i saw the same light,So I left for another dimension,Assuming that both men were right."- The AlienFrom the novel 'Ineffable
C. Sean McGee