“It is surely significant that the adults who feature in children's books are rarely, if ever, Regional Sales Managers or Building Services Engineers.”

“It is perhaps sad books that best console us when we are sad, and to lonely service stations that we should drive when there is no one for us to hold or love.”

“There may be significant things to learn about people by looking at what annoys them most.”

“There is a devilishly direct relationship between the significance of an idea and how nervous we become at the prospect of having to think about it.”

“A great writer picks up on those things that matter. It’s almost like their radar is attuned to the most significant moments.”

“We used to build temples, and museums are about as close as secular society dares to go in facing up to the idea that a good building can change your life (and a bad one ruin it).”

“One rarely falls in love without being as much attracted to what is interestingly wrong with someone as what is objectively healthy.”