Quotes by scottish authors

The church which ceases to be evangelistic will soon cease to be evangelical. Alexander Duff
Church Will Soon Cease Ceases Which Evangelical
I have been trying to point out that in our lives chance may have an astonishing influence and, if I may offer advice to the young laboratory worker, it would be this - never to neglect an extraordinary appearance or happening. Alexander Fleming
Advice Young Extraordinary Neglect Our Astonishing Our Lives Out Would Would-Be Point Never Been Laboratory Offer Trying May Influence Happening Worker Appearance Lives Chance
Morse conquered his electrical difficulties although he was only a painter, and I don't intend to give in either till all is completed. Alexander Graham Bell
Difficulties Completed Give Only He Morse Although Till His Intend Either Electrical Painter Conquered
I have discovered that my interest in my dear pupil, Mabel, has ripened into a far deeper feeling than that of mere friendship. In fact, I know that I have learned to love her very sincerely. Alexander Graham Bell
Love Friendship Feeling Pupil Fact Mere Sincerely Know Learned Dear Discovered Very Than In Fact Interest To Love Far Deeper Her
Dumbness comes from the fact that a child is born deaf and that it consequently never learns how to articulate, for it is by the medium of hearing that such instruction is acquired. Alexander Graham Bell
Medium Born Fact Never Instruction Deaf Learns How Hearing Articulate Child Acquired Consequently
It is a neck-and-neck race between Mr. Gray and myself who shall complete our apparatus first. He has the advantage over me in being a practical electrician - but I have reason to believe that I am better acquainted with the phenomena of sound than he is - so that I have an advantage there. Alexander Graham Bell
Myself Me Better First Believe Complete Our Shall He Advantage Between Over Practical Sound Am Than Being Race Acquainted Apparatus Electrician Reason Who Gray Phenomena
Such a chimerical idea as telegraphing vocal sounds would indeed, to most minds, seem scarcely feasible enough to spend time in working over. I believe, however, that it is feasible and that I have got the cue to the solution of the problem. Alexander Graham Bell
Time Problem Believe Enough Spend Minds Indeed Would Solution Scarcely Seem Vocal Feasible Idea Over Most Got Cue Sounds However Working
Oh I love gadgets and I pride myself on keeping at the cutting edge of technology. Alexander McCall Smith
Love Myself Technology Gadgets Pride Edge Oh Cutting Cutting Edge Keeping
The wider your readership, the greater the chances of offending your readers. Alexander McCall Smith
Readers Readership Greater Offending Your Wider Chances
Well, I'd say all of us are a combination of moods and emotions. In my day to day life I don't go around skipping, but at times one can feel sheer exhilarating joy at the world. Alexander McCall Smith
Life Day Emotions Joy World Say Moods Day-To-Day Feel Combination Well Sheer Around Go Exhilarating Times Us Skipping
That my philosophy of life is, as far as possible, one of enjoyment. I'm not nihilistic. Alexander McCall Smith
Life Philosophy Possible As Far As Far Enjoyment
Any author of fiction will tell you that characters don't need to be told what to do. Alexander McCall Smith
You Will Tell Characters Author Any Fiction Need
Serial novels have an unexpected effect; they hook the writer as well as the reader. Alexander McCall Smith
Hook Writer Well Reader Effect Unexpected Serial Novels
But you cannot expect every writer to dwell on human suffering. I think my books do deal with grave issues. People who say they are too positive probably haven't read them. Alexander McCall Smith
Positive You Suffering People Every Think Too Books Say Writer Read Deal Issues Expect Human Dwell Cannot Them Who Human Suffering Grave
Every novel presents a slice of life. A noir policier for example presents one slice, one that perhaps addresses social dysfunction or some sort of pathology, while mine present a slice that is more upbeat and affirmative. Alexander McCall Smith
Life Example Every Slice Address Mine Some More Noir For Example Perhaps Sort Affirmative Upbeat Pathology While Dysfunction Social Novel Present Presents
I think people in Botswana are pleased that my books paint a positive picture of their lives and portray the country as being very special. They've made a great success of their country, and the people are fed up with the constant reporting of only the problems and poverty of the continent. They welcome something which puts the positive side. Alexander McCall Smith
Positive Success Great Welcome People Problems Made Poverty Picture Country Think Side Books Pleased Constant Something Only Fed Fed Up Puts Great Success Continent Up Very Reporting Being Which Special Paint Lives Portray
I'm interested in character and dialogue and exchange of ideas. Alexander McCall Smith
Character Exchange Ideas Dialogue Interested
Many of my books are written from a female perspective. I rather enjoy the take that women have on the world, and certainly I enjoy the conversations that women have. Alexander McCall Smith
Women World Perspective Enjoy Books Rather Take Written Female Conversations Certainly Many
I've also long since realized that the way to really engage children is to give out prizes; it's amazing how it concentrates their minds. Alexander McCall Smith
Amazing Long Minds Way Out Give Since Also How Prizes Children Realized Really Engage
Writing fiction, I really just sit there and it just comes. Alexander McCall Smith
Writing Sit Just Fiction Really
Writers obviously have to bear witness to the harsh face of the age. Alexander McCall Smith
Age Witness Face Harsh Bear Writers Obviously
Fiction is able to encompass books that are bleak and which dwell on the manifold and terrible problems of our times. But I don't think that all books need to have that particular focus. Alexander McCall Smith
Problems Focus Think Our Books Able Bleak Particular Terrible Encompass Times Dwell Fiction Which Manifold Need
My Botswana books are positive, and I've never really sought to deny that. They are positive. They present a very positive picture of the country. And I think that that is perfectly defensible given that there is so much written about Africa which is entirely negative. Alexander McCall Smith
Positive Negative Picture Country Think Books About Entirely Given Never Written Perfectly Sought Very Deny Africa Which Much Really Present
Botswana is actually very peaceful. It's democratic. It never was in debt. They've been fortunate, they've had diamonds. Alexander McCall Smith
Never Had Democratic Diamonds Been Debt Very Fortunate Peaceful Actually
As a writer, I have readers who will have a range of political views. I don't think they look to me for political guidance. Alexander McCall Smith
Me Guidance Political Will Think Range Writer Look Readers Political Views Views Who
If you lose sight of the smaller accomplishments, you end up with an imbalance in your life. Alexander McCall Smith
Life You Lose Imbalance Sight Smaller Accomplishments End Up Your
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