“By repetition, each lie becomes an irreversible fact upon which other lies are constructed.”

“We lie to one another every day, in the sweetest way, often unconsciously. We dress ourselves and compose ourselves in order to present ourselves to one another.”

“I have a theory which I suspect is rather immoral,' Smiley went on, more lightly. 'Each of us has only a quantum of compassion. That if we lavish our concern on every stray cat, we never get to the centre of things.”

“Haydon had found his charm again. He could do that at the drop of a hat. He drew you and he repelled you. I remember that exactly. He danced all ways for you, playing your emotions against each other because he had none of his own.”

“The fact that you can only do a little is no excuse for doing nothing.”

“A good writer can watch a cat pad across the street and know what it is to be pounced upon by a Bengal tiger.”

“She's become a Russian again, he thought. When something works, she's grateful. When it doesn't work, it's life.”