Naomi Mitchison Quotations

Of course there were areas of safety; nothing could get at me if I curled up on my father's lap, holding his ear with one thumb tucked into it... All about him was safe.

The lesser evil is also evil.

the best committee's a committee of one!

it's possible to go faster than folk are ready for; that's the key to democracy ...

there is nothing sorer to the spirit than falling below what one's lover thinks of one.

All forms of sexual loving become acceptable if the lovers wear togas or wolfskins.

Good will, that curious product of consciousness, of leisure and energy to spare and share. That thing we put out against the forces of interest. That extra thing. Religions and nations and political parties have taken it and used it as coinage, have said you must only give it in exchange for value.

... the fishermen of Port Sonas care only for the two things, fishing and women. And there's some that are no' that keen on the fishing.

I read a lot of archaeology and early history in a general way, not thinking particularly of this book, and this provided me with the background. It showed me how, possibly, the people lived back then.

It was all coming out from somewhere, and I just had the job of writing it down. I was, however, determined that the central characters would have a happy ending, but it was quite difficult sometimes to get them out of trouble.