“Take yourself by the scruff of the neck and shake off your incarnate laziness.”

“If your lot makes you cry and be wretched, get rid of it and take another; strike out for yourself; don't listen to the shriek of your relations...don't be afraid of public opinion in the shape of the neighbours in the next house, when all the world is before you new and shining, and everything is possible, if you will only be energetic and independent and seize opportunity by the scruff of the neck.”

“Mere faith is the path of the lazy. It is the overused excuse of the deluded. Get off your ass and make something happen yourself.”

“and with that he took the bloody old towser by the scruff of the neck and by Jesus he near throttled him.”

“Time grabs you by the scruff of your neck and drags you forward. You get over it, of course. Everyone was right about that. One mathematically insignificant day, you stop hoping for happiness and become actually happy.”

“Just because I wear a size 14 shoe does not mean I’ll take it off when I go to shake your hand.”