Nevil Shute Quotes

Maybe we've been too silly to deserve a world like this.

You cannot argue stupidity, you just have to accept it patiently as one of those things.

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.

If what they say is right we're none of us going to have time to do all that we planned to do. But we can keep on doing it as long as we can.

There's no dignity, no decency, or health today for men that haven't got a job. All other things depend on work today.

You did not die when you were drawing public assistance money, but you certainly did not remain alive.

it was so beautiful', he said. 'the Three Pagodas Pass must be one of the loveliest places in the world. you've got this broad valley with the river running down it, and the jungle forest, and the mountains....we used to sit by the river and watch the sun setting behind the mountains, sometimes, and say what a marvellous place it would be to come to for a holiday. however terrible a prison camp may be, it makes a difference if its beautiful.

I didn't wait to see her ship go off, because partings are stupid things and best got over quickly