33+ Dorothy Dunnett Quotes On Society, Education And Order

Dorothy Dunnett was a Scottish historical novelist, best known for her series The Lymond Chronicles. She wrote a total of 24 books, including the six-volume House of Niccolò series. Her works are noted for their historical accuracy, vivid detail, and complex characters. Following is our collection on famous quotes by Dorothy Dunnett on life, society, love.

Top 10 Dorothy Dunnett Quotes

1. Man is a being of varied, manifold and inconstant nature. And woman, by God, is a match for him.
2. And habits are hell's own substitute for good intentions. Habits are the ruin of ambition, of initiative , of imagination. They're the curse of marriage and the after-bane of death.
3. After I convinced them that I was a harmless novelist, I actually got them to give me a tour of the harem - which is usually off limits for tourists.
4. Look up . . . and see them. The teaching stars, beyond worship and commonplace tongues.
5. I would give you my soul in a blackberry pie; and a knife to cut it with.
6. But it's also because of something personal. My mother and father met while playing chess, so I've always had a fondness for the game. If it weren't for chess, I might not be here.
7. So she was on her own, Kate thought, and instilled all the friendly helpfulness she could into her next question. “Excuse me, but are you the bad company young Mr. Scott has got into?
8. Lack of genius never held anyone back. Only time wasted on resentment and daydreaming can do that.
9. Where are the links of the chain ... joining us to the past?
10. Verily, God hath eighteen thousand worlds; and verily, your world is one of them, and this its bright axle-tree.

Dorothy Dunnett Short Quotes

• Music, the knife without a hilt.
• Fools make news, and wise men carry it.
• Facts are the soil from which the story grows. Imagination is a last resort.

Dorothy Dunnett Quotes About Life

You all know that each title in the Chronicles has a chess theme; that's partly because of the overall design of the Chronicles themselves - the game of chess as an analogue of the game of life. — Dorothy Dunnett

Depose him,’ said Will Scott, astonished. ‘The Grand Master’s holy office terminates with his life.’ ‘And can nobody think of an answer to that?’ said Will Scott. — Dorothy Dunnett

What’s wrong? Has Francis been rude? Then you must try to overlook it. I know you wouldn’t think so, but he is thoroughly upset by Tom Erskine’s death; and when Francis is troubled he doesn’t show it, he just goes and makes life wretched for somebody. — Dorothy Dunnett

Dorothy Dunnett Famous Quotes And Sayings

Versatility is one of the few human traits which are universally intolerable. You may be good at Greek and good at painting and be popular. You may be good at Greek and good at sport, and be wildly popular. But try all three and you’re a mountebank. Nothing arouses suspicion quicker than genuine, all-round proficiency. — Dorothy Dunnett

My son took many years to learn the simple truth. You cannot love any one person adequately until you have made friends with the rest of the human race also. Adult love demands qualities which cannot be learned living in a vacuum of resentment. — Dorothy Dunnett

Oh, well. Everyone else has suave, cosmopolitan sheep: why not us? The Millers at Hepple have a ewe that’s been to Kelso three times, and they’ve never been farther than Ford in their lives.” Kate peered absently into the farm pond, and clucked again. “Thoughtless creatures. They’ve forgotten the fish. — Dorothy Dunnett

If I can’t be personal, I don’t want to argue,” said his hostess categorically. “I may be missing your points, but you’re much too busy dodging mine. — Dorothy Dunnett

But I despised men who accepted their fate. I shaped mine twenty times and had it broken twenty times in my hands. — Dorothy Dunnett

I wish to God,” said Gideon with mild exasperation, “that you’d talk—just once—in prose like other people. — Dorothy Dunnett

Did I ever tell you,’ said Lymond pausing on the afterthought, on his way to the flap, ‘that that aunt of mine once hatched an egg?’ He paused, deep in thought, and walked slowly to the door before turning again. His lordship of Aubigny, staring after the vanishing form of his brother, received the full splendour of Lymond’s smile. ‘It was a cuckoo,’ said Francis Crawford prosaically, and followed Lennox out. — Dorothy Dunnett

It was one of the occasions when Lymond asleep wrecked the peace of mind of more people than Lymond awake. — Dorothy Dunnett

It seems to me,’ said Philippa prosaically, ‘that on the whole we run more risks with Mr Crawford’s protection than without it. — Dorothy Dunnett

A man of over thirty might be held to be at the height of his powers, but not necessarily of his wisdom. — Dorothy Dunnett

And the English army, wheeling, started south at a gallop over the hill pass into Ettrick, followed by twenty men and eight hundred sheep in steel helmets. — Dorothy Dunnett

For an hour, blended with all she could offer, something noble had been created which had nothing to do with the physical world. And from the turn of his throat, the warmth of his hair, the strong, slender sinews of his hands, something further; which had. Though she combed the earth and searched through the smoke of the galaxies there was no being she wanted but this, who was not and should not be for Philippa Somerville. — Dorothy Dunnett

Today,’ said Lymond, ‘if you must know, I don’t like living at all. But that’s just immaturity boggling at the sad face of failure. Tomorrow I’ll be bright as a bedbug again. — Dorothy Dunnett

And at thirty-eight a brilliant exponent of arms and a knight of the great fighting and religious Order of St John, the Chevalier de Villegagnon had absolutely no use for common sense himself, but respected it in the laity. — Dorothy Dunnett

He regards boredom, I observe, as the One and Mighty Enemy of his soul. And will succeed in conquering it, I am sure—if he survives the experience. — Dorothy Dunnett

To the men exposed to his rule Lymond never appeared ill: he was never tired; he was never worried, or pained, or disappointed, or passionately angry. If he rested, he did so alone; if he slept, he took good care to sleep apart. “—I sometimes doubt if he’s human,” said Will, speaking his thought aloud. “It’s probably all done with wheels. — Dorothy Dunnett

Repressively, Lymond himself answered. “I dislike being discussed as if I were a disease. Nobody ‘got’ me,” he said. — Dorothy Dunnett

Life Lessons by Dorothy Dunnett

1. Dorothy Dunnett's work emphasizes the importance of resilience and perseverance in the face of adversity. She demonstrates that it is possible to overcome obstacles and achieve success through hard work and determination.
2. Her novels also illustrate the power of self-belief and the importance of staying true to one's values and principles.
3. Finally, her stories show that there is beauty and strength in embracing diversity and celebrating the unique qualities of different cultures and backgrounds.