Anita Brookner

I never learnt Hebrew because my health was fragile, and it was thought that learning Hebrew would be an added burden. I regret it, because I would like to be able to join in fully. Not that I am a believer, but I would like to be. ”

Great writers are the saints for the godless. ”

Good women always think it is their fault when someone else is being offensive. Bad women never take the blame for anything. ”

Existentialism is about being a saint without God; being your own hero, without all the sanction and support of religion or society. ”

All good fortune is a gift of the gods, and you don't win the favor of the ancient gods by being good, but by being bold. ”

Real love is a pilgrimage. It happens when there is no strategy, but it is very rare because most people are strategists. ”

You can never betray the people who are dead, so you go on being a public Jew; the dead can't answer slurs, but I'm here. I would love to think that Jesus wants me for a sunbeam, but he doesn't. ”

The essence of romantic love is that wonderful beginning, after which sadness and impossibility may become the rule. ”

Old men should have more care to end life well than to live long. ”

I was a teacher most of my life, which I loved. I had a very happy working life, and when I retired, I thought I must do something, and I've always read a lot of fiction - you learn so much from fiction. My sentimental education came mostly from fiction, I should say, so I thought I'd try. ”