Great Book Quotes From The Classics

It is rare that a quote captures the essence of an entire novel, but here are a few standout quotes from dozens of beloved and world-renowned classics.

Most of life is so dull that there is nothing to be said about it, and the books and talk that would describe it as interesting are obliged to exaggerate, in the hope of justifying their own existence.

E. M. Forster, A Passage to India

That is the one unforgivable sin in any society. Be different and be damned!

Margaret Mitchell, Gone with the Wind

Six months ago I had never been to England, and, certainly, I had never sounded the depths of an English heart. I had known the shallows.

Ford Madox Ford, The Good Soldier

The whole mad swirl of everything that was to come began then.

Jack Kerouac, On the Road

In his Petersburg world, all people were divided into two completely opposite sorts. One was the inferior sort: the banal, stupid and, above all, ridiculous people who believed that one husband should live with one wife, whom he has married in a church, that a girl should be innocent, a woman modest, a man manly, temperate and firm, that one should raise children, earn one’s bread, pay one’s debts, and other such stupidities. This was an old-fashioned and ridiculous sort of people. But there was another sort of people, the real ones, to which they all belonged, and for whom one had, above all, to be elegant, handsome, magnanimous, bold, gay, to give oneself to every passion without blushing and laugh at everything else.

Leo Tolstoy, Anna Karenina

I prefer unlucky things. Luck is vulgar. Who wants what luck would bring? I don’t.

D. H. Lawrence, Women in Love

Human speech is like a cracked kettle on which we tap crude rhythms for bears to dance to, while we long to make music that will melt the stars.

Gustave Flaubert, Madame Bovary

They looked at each other, baffled, in love and hate.

William Golding, Lord of the Flies

I never liked to hunt, you know. There was always the danger of having a horse fall on you.

Ernest Hemingway, The Sun Also Rises

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To Kill a Mockingbird Book Quotes From Harper Lee

The book is about a family – a widowed father and his two children – who are living in Alabama in the 1930s and navigating the moral questions raised by racial inequality. Here are some of the most memorable quotes from the book.

1. “People generally see what they look for, and hear what they listen for.” ― Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird

2. “The one thing that doesn’t abide by majority rule is a person’s conscience.” ― Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird

3. “You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view — until you climb into his skin and walk around in it.” – Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird

4. “It’s not time to worry yet.” ― Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird

5. “Equal rights for all, special privileges for none.” ― Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird

6. “People don’t like to have somebody knowing more than they do. It aggravates them.” ― Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird

7. “I try to give’em a reason, you see. It helps folks if they can latch onto a reason.” ― Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird

8. “You don’t have to learn much out of books, it’s like if you want to learn about cows, you go milk one.” ― Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird

9. “If one went for a walk with no definite purpose in mind, it was correct to believe one’s mind incapable of definite purpose.” ― Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird

10. “We generally get the juries we deserve.” ― Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird

11. “You see they could never, never understand that I live like I do because that’s the way I want to live.” ― Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird

12. “Until I feared I would lose it, I never loved to read. One does not love breathing.” ― Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird

13. “People in their right minds never take pride in their talents.” ― Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird

14. “Sometimes it’s better to bend the law a little in special cases.” ― Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird

15. “I do my best to love everyday.” ― Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird

16. “It’s not necessary to tell all you know. It’s not ladylike- in the second place, folks don’t like to have somebody around knowin’ more than they do.” ― Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird

17. “If you can learn a simple trick, you’ll get along a lot better with all kind of folks.” ― Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird

18. “There are just some kind of men who’re so busy worrying about the next world they’ve never learned to live in this one.” ― Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird

19. “Cry about the simple hell people give other people—without even thinking.” ― Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird

20. “The only way in which all men in America are equal, is in the courtroom.” ― Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird

21. “If we followed our feelings all the time, we’d be like cats chasin’ their tails.” ― Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird

22. “There’s a lot of ugly things in this world, son. I wish I could keep ’em all away from you. That’s never possible.”― Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird

23. “When stalking one’s prey, it is best to take one’s time. Say nothing, and as sure as eggs he will become curious and emerge.” ― Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird

24. “Most people are nice when you finally see them.” ― Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird

25. “Things are always better in the morning.” ― Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird

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Three Classics You Might Not Know Were Written By Women

Despite historically negative social attitudes towards female writers, and the practical limitations of literary education being targeted only at men, some of the greatest writers ever to have lived are women - but you might not know it.

Check out these famous books that you’ve almost certainly heard of, but that you might not know were penned by women.

Middlemarch by George Eliot

This 1871-72 classic has long been part of the established literary canon, telling the story of an imagined 19th century society, with various male and female characters whose lives overlap and interlink in interesting ways. George Eliot was lauded for ‘his’ ability to understand the emotional workings of the female mind; unbeknownst to the public and his critics, ‘he’ was actually a she. George Eliot was the pen name of Mary Anne Evans, who concealed her identity for years.

Mary Poppins by P.L. Travers

These iconic stories about the world’s best nanny was written by Pamela Lyndon Travers, who used her initials only - presumably in order to make her work appealing to readers who might prefer a male author. First published in London in 1934, the book series inspired the incredibly successful musical Disney film from 1964, although it’s reported the author herself wasn’t a huge fan!

Indiana by George Sand

This 1831 classic is a socially aware novel about the difficulties of marital obligation. The story is about a woman who is unhappily married and decides to leave her husband, and the book acts a defense against all women who choose to challenge the social norm in pursuit of their own happiness and fulfillment. George Sand was actually the pen name of Amantine-Lucile-Aurore Dudevant, who thought that her political views would likely be taken more seriously if she were thought to be a man.

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Banned! Classic Books That Were Removed From Circulation

There are some books which clearly present more challenging themes and unsurprisingly get excluded from schools and libraries or even removed from circulation entirely. However, there are some books which seem fairly innocuous but still manage to rile up certain groups. Take a look at these three classics which were considered so awful they were completely banned.

Ulysses by James Joyce

The 1922 work of fiction by James Joyce is considered one of the true classics so it’s unthinkable to consider that it wouldn’t be widely available. Yet when it was published it was deemed to be obscene due to both the sexual content within and the language used. The book was kept away from the US and any copies which tried to creep in were unceremoniously burned. The ban was overturned in 1933 when the publisher challenged the ruling in court and won.

Animal Farm by George Orwell

A piece of political commentary dressed up a novella, there’s no question that Animal Farm could have been controversial. However, the anti-Stalin sentiment was felt to be so unacceptable that the book was banned in 1946 within Yugoslavia, banned in 1991 in Kenya and banned yet again in UAE in 2002. Even in the more lenient UK, the subject was considered borderline with the release heavily delayed.

Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll

Written in 1865, Alice’s adventures have captivated generation after generation but not all readers around the world have had the privilege of having access to the text. In the Hunan district, the book was summarily banned in 1931 because the idea of having talking animals was deemed to be disrespectful to humans by putting them on the “same level”.

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Why classic literature is as important today as it has ever been

Classic literature is something which should be treasured, but too often can summon uncomfortable memories of school days when we were forced to burrow through Cliffs Notes to find out what it all meant really.

However, there are many reasons to revisit classic literature – or even delve books you have previously been too daunted to get into. Without the dread of having writing an assignment on a classic novel, reading it for enjoyment can open up a whole new way of reading.

Here are some reasons why classic literature is so important now more than ever.

It improves concentration and helps you focus on details

In the same way that the complex patterns of classical music are a great way to give your brain a workout, so too is reading classical literature. In today’s world of endless instant, but ultimately meaningless, information and short attention spans, it can take great discipline to read Charles Dickens take two or three pages to describe the contents of a room, or Joseph Conrad detail a man walking down the street over half a chapter.

That kind of detail is very different to modern literature and not what many of us are used to, but that richness of language forces us to slow down and concentrate, which is no bad thing in today’s hectic world.

They inspire great ideas

We can get bogged down on a daily basis with petty and ill-informed debates on social media. Classic literature, however, deals with grand ideas and incisive social commentary. We can learn a lot more from the themes in classic literature than we get from opinionated malcontents online.

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The impact of Dante’s Inferno

It has been over 700 years since Dante’s Inferno was first written, and a despite the age of the manuscript, it is still one book that has a huge influence on pop culture. Here’s how Dante’s Inferno is still impacting our lives.

The questions it asks

One of the main reasons that Dante’s Inferno has remained so popular is because of the questions that it asks. These questions are the ones for the ages, the questions that seem far beyond human understanding, but we take each of the questions and try to improve our knowledge and philosophies in an attempt to answer them – What is evil? What is redemption?

Understand the forms of human evil

As the first of the divine comedies, Dante’s Inferno looks at all the different types of human evil from the minor to the most depraved and brings them all before the eyes of the reader. Yes, you are in a torture chamber of evil, but it goes beyond that to a level that forces you to question the nature of evil.

The appearances in all elements of culture

All three parts of the Divine Comedies feature within popular culture, but particularly Dante’s Inferno. From the art of Giovanni di Paolo where he represents Paradisio, to the Auguste Rodin’s sculpture group, the gates of hell, the imagery of Inferno has provided plenty of fodder for artists. But the impact does not stop there. Chaucer, Milton, Marx, T.S. Eliot, E. M. Forster, Philip Pullman and even Dan Brown all draw on elements of Dante’s Inferno in their work. And of course the phrase “Abandon hope all Ye who enter here” is inscribed above the gates of hell in Dante’s Inferno, and is an often quoted line in TV and cinema.

For more on how the classics impact the modern world, visit www.lassmedia.com where you will find more interesting effects and legacies that classic literature has left behind.

Animal Farm – socialist Russia in animal form

On its surface a simple drama about talking animals, George Orwell’s revolutionary novel, Animal Farm, has a much deeper and darker critique of the Soviet Union within. In this piece we look at the representation of socialist Russia in George Orwell’s Animal Farm.

Orwell’s targets in Animal Farm are the history of the 1917 Russian Revolution the rise of communist dictator Joseph Stalin beginning in 1927, with Stalinism subjected to particularly biting focus. Where in reality the ruling Russian Tsars were overthrown by the people and replaced with government, in the book the farm animals overthrow the farmer Mr Jones, depicted as drunk and inept. The pigs then go on to form their own democracy and ruling class, especially the pigs, but events eventually turn darker as Orwell moves into his Stalinism critique.

One of the novel’s main action points is the battle for dominance between the pigs Snowball and Napoleon, Orwell’s bestial versions of Stalin opponent Leon Trotsky and Stalin himself. Like the idealistic, almost heroic, Trotsky, Snowball is less powerful than Napoleon and as such is exiled from the farm, echoing Trotsky’s own expulsion from the Soviet Union.

From executions to false confessions of misdeeds, the pigs in Animal Farm degenerate further and further to eventually come close to resembling men, their once hated overlords-turned business partners. Much like Stalin’s transformation into a tyrannical dictator, Napoleon becomes a version of Mr Jones, even walking on two legs in a complete rejection of his animal roots. Animal Farm is most effective not in simply showing the abuse of power, but the horrific and heart-breaking hypocrisy at the heart of dictatorships.

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The name game: Classic novelist and the names that made them famous

One of the jobs of a writer is to construct character, with carefully chosen names and personalities and a good author will show the journey that character goes on throughout the course of the story.

Inventing identities is a key part of any writer’s remit, but what if one of the identities they have constructed is their own? Many well-known writers use pen names to disguise their work, or if they are writing different genre and they want to keep it separate for what they are most famous for. For example Harry Potter creator JK Rowling uses the name Robert Galbraith for her series of detective novels.

However, there are a number of authors whose pseudonym is the name that has made them famous. Here are a few unfamiliar names of famous authors you may not know.

Samuel Langhorne Clemens

The former journalist and steamboat worker adopted the name Mark Twain and would go on to make his name penning the novels Tom Sawyer and The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.

Eric Arthur Blair

This man’s work has seen a resurgence in recent years to the volatile political climate. Best known or social and political cautionary tales 1984 and Animal Farm, Blair is better known as George Orwell.

Mary Anne Evans

Evans wrote mainly light-hearted and romantic novels in Victorian England, but when she decided she wanted to tackle more weighty issues, she decided to change names – and gender – and become George Eliot. Under that name, she would go on to right Middlemarch and Silas Marner.

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Why classic novels should be on your must-read list

The world is full of books and we’re pretty sure you can’t read every single one in the world in your lifetime, however, there are many all-time classics that should be on the list of ones to read. Why do you say? Here are a few reasons.

They all offer different lessons - Books aren’t just written for the sake of a story, they are written most of the time with a deeper meaning and for you to learn something at the end. It could be something along the lines of how women are treated in society, raising awareness of different social issues or bringing to light a negative period of time. There is something you will find out from every book and you can share that wisdom with others.

It’s traditional - Books today don’t have the same traditional and rustic value that an old-school or classic book does. Classic books don’t mention social media or the woes of technology, they’re usually written before all that happens and it allows you to immerse yourself into a new yet old world of what things were like.

If you don’t start, you never finish - There are plenty of brilliant classic novels that are timeless. And unlike the books, we all run out of time, and if you don’t pick them up sooner or later, you’ll miss out on reading them altogether. Make it a goal to pick up a classic novel every few months, and then once the ball is rolling you’ll want to read more and more.

Discover a wide selection of classic novels over at www.lassmedia.com.

Book-themed Christmas surprises

Christmas is now literally right around the corner and the festivities are fully underway. Whether you’re someone who plans Christmas months before or leaves everything to the last minute, we’ve got some surprise ideas for you. Presents are a large part of Christmas, however, these surprise ideas are more about things you can do for someone - someone who loves all things books.

Pop a new read on their bed Christmas Eve night - The best way to spend Christmas Eve is cozied up in pajamas and hanging out with your family, doing homely activities. If your partner or kids love to read, pop a new book on their bed so when they go to bed, they’ll be able to start a new book just before Christmas begins.

Play a new audiobook to the kids - When you’re sitting down by the fire together drinking hot chocolates, instead of a movie, put on an audiobook - preferably a Christmas one. It’ll be a nice change and surprise as you all delve into a new story together.

Christmas treats - Everyone loves food so a lovely book-themed Christmas idea, is to bake cookies or cupcakes in relation to your family’s favorite book characters. Of course the result all depends on talent, however, we can assure you, everyone will still enjoy them despite the outcome.

Christmas crackers - It’s tradition to all have Christmas crackers during Christmas dinner and to make it more special, make your own. To make them book themed, you could put in book quotes, or questions about a book instead of jokes.

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Classic Christmas tales with a message

For many families, Christmas is about tradition and that can mean revisiting some classic Christmas tales. Here are a few such classics which home with a message too.

The Little Match Girl by Hans Christian Andersen

This classic tale teaches the importance of charity and community and helping those in need. Set in a cold winter, it tells the story of a poor dying girl who sells matchsticks on the street and the wonderful visions she sees. It is a sad, yet heartwarming tale with a clear message.

A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens

A book which has spawned many movies and TV shows and which has been reimagined in a number of different ways over the years. At the heart of Dickens's festive tale is the belief that it is good in all people. Ebenezer Scrooge is a ruthless and heartless businessman who hates Christmas and the joviality that goes with it. However, visits from three ghosts on Christmas Eve change his perspective.

Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer by Robert L May

It may now be more popular as a well-known festive song, but Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer started off as a children’s book. New York-based writer Robert L May had his story, which was written as an extended poem, first published in 1939. It tells the tale of the reindeer who was shunned due to his shiny nose which turns out to be his biggest asset. A story which teaches inclusion, it is now firmly part of the Christmas season.

For more classic tales over the festive period check out the books at www.lassmedia.com.