“The charm of fishing is that it is the pursuit of what is elusive but attainable, a perpetual series of occasions for hope.”

“The true definition of a snob is one who craves for what separates men rather than for what unites them.”

“The men who knew that he knew what he knew had found him”

“An atheist is a man who has no invisible means of support.”

“Jock put his shoulder to the framework and the whole thing crumbled inward with a crash of glass. "Rotten as touch-wood," he said. "This place would never stand a siege.”

“How will you deal with him?" Belses asked.Jock lifted a brawny fist and regarded it lovingly. "Knock him out-- truss him up-- whatever the Almighty permits us."Supposing he's not alone?"Oh, then, if his trusties are with him, there'll be a bonny rumpus.”

“The task of leadership is not to put greatness into humanity, but to elicit it, for the greatness is already there.”