He was calling it an atonic seizure because, even if he didn't know why it had happened, it was important to give… — Ben Aaronovitch Copy Share Image
“So that's when I came up with the most ridiculous plan since I'd decided to take a witness statement from a ghost.… — Ben Aaronovitch Copy Share Image
“I have an idea," I said. "This better not be a cunning plan," said Leslie. Nightingale looked blank, but at least it… — Ben Aaronovitch Humor Copy Share Image
You know, your species [humans] has the most amazing capacity for self-deception, matched only by its ingenuity in trying to destroy itself. — Ben Aaronovitch Copy Share Image
“This book is dedicated to all the people who get up and do something about it, whatever “it” is and however small… — Ben Aaronovitch Book Copy Share Image
“I don’t like my bacon sandwich to be curiously snuffling at my fingers. But sometimes being police means holding your breath and… — Ben Aaronovitch Bacon Copy Share Image
Every male in the world thinks he's an excellent driver. Every copper who's ever had to pick an eyeball out of a… — Ben Aaronovitch Copper Copy Share Image
“the rules of English grammar are largely an artificial construct with little or no bearing on the language as it is spoke.” — Ben Aaronovitch English grammar Copy Share Image
If you ask any police officer what the worst part of the job is, they will always say breaking bad news to… — Ben Aaronovitch Copy Share Image
“As a typical Londoner, Gurcan had a high tolerance for random thoughtlessness; after all, if you live in the big city there's… — Ben Aaronovitch Big city Copy Share Image
“... I think it's designed to flower open like a Chocolate Orange." Me and Lesley then had to explain Terry's Chocolate Orange… — Ben Aaronovitch Copy Share Image
“I didn’t tell him that it was all stored as binary information on rapidly spinning shiny discs, partly because I’d have to… — Ben Aaronovitch Technology Copy Share Image
“We can't have your people fighting each other," I said. The 'royal we' is very important in police work; it reminds the… — Ben Aaronovitch Police Copy Share Image
What frustrated me was the thought that with three thousand years of history someone in China, some monk in a monastery halfway… — Ben Aaronovitch Bamboo Copy Share Image
“As soon as we stopped sleeping with our cousins and build walls, temples and a few decent nightclubs, society became too complex… — Ben Aaronovitch Bureaucracy Copy Share Image
My Dad says that being a Londoner has nothing to do with where you're born. He says that there are people who… — Ben Aaronovitch Copy Share Image
“Can you sacrifice people?' I asked. 'Take their magic that way?' 'Yes,' he said. 'But there's a catch.' 'What's the catch?' 'You… — Ben Aaronovitch Consequences Copy Share Image
“Something round and dirty and white was resting near my foot. It was a skull. I picked it up. ‘Is that you,… — Ben Aaronovitch Humor Copy Share Image
“The evening was still warm enough for shirtsleeves, and the city was clinging to summer like a wannabe trophy wife to a… — Ben Aaronovitch Flower Copy Share Image
Conflict resolution,' said Nightingale. 'Is this what they teach at Hendon these days?' 'Yes, sir,' I said. 'But don't worry, they also… — Ben Aaronovitch Copy Share Image
“We seem to be sitting around waiting for the next fucking disaster." he said, which went into the official log as -… — Ben Aaronovitch Disaster Copy Share Image
“It's a sad fact of modern life that sooner or later you will end up on YouTube doing something stupid. The trick,… — Ben Aaronovitch Copy Share Image
“The mark was from the glue that once held a folder into which a library card would have fitted back in the… — Ben Aaronovitch Computers Copy Share Image
On the plus side, there were no rioters in sight but on the minus side this was probably because everywhere I looked… — Ben Aaronovitch Fire Copy Share Image
“When I’m considering this I find it helpful to quote the wisdom of my father, who once told me, “Who knows why… — Ben Aaronovitch Father Copy Share Image
“Or at least of fending him off for long enough that we can sweep in heroically like the Seventh Cavalry.’ Burning tipis… — Ben Aaronovitch Cavalry Copy Share Image
“A London copper doesn't like to intrude upon a traveller camp with anything less than a van full of bodies in riot… — Ben Aaronovitch Copy Share Image
This I know for a fact: the reason African women have children is so that there's someone else to do the housework. — Ben Aaronovitch African women Copy Share Image
“..sudden attack of culture snobbery is a common affliction among policemen of a certain rank and age; it’s like a normal midlife… — Ben Aaronovitch Humor Copy Share Image
“My mum translated this in her head to "witchfinder," which was good because like most West Africans, she considered witchfinding a more… — Ben Aaronovitch Mothers Copy Share Image
Are they really gods?" "I never worry about theological questions," said Nightingale. "They exist, they have power and they can breach the… — Ben Aaronovitch Gods Copy Share Image
“Urban Outfitters, eh," said Beverley. "That explains the Dr Denim shirt." "My mum bought me that," I said. "And you think that's… — Ben Aaronovitch Humor Copy Share Image
“I was tempted to tell her it was because we were British and actually had a sense of humour, but I try… — Ben Aaronovitch British Copy Share Image
“The voice belonged to a plump, round-faced woman of the sort that develops a good personality because the alternative is suicide.” — Ben Aaronovitch Good person Copy Share Image
“Officially she was there to liaise with me on the case, but really she was there for the wide-screen TV, takeaways and… — Ben Aaronovitch Raison d'etre Copy Share Image
“For a certain generation of African immigrants cleaning offices became part of the culture like male circumcision and supporting Arsenal.” — Ben Aaronovitch Diaspora Copy Share Image
“I left in a hurry before he could change his mind, but I want to make it clear that at no point… — Ben Aaronovitch Psychology Copy Share Image
“He was from Yorkshire, or somewhere like that, and like many Northerners with issues, he'd moved to London as a cheap alternative… — Ben Aaronovitch Copy Share Image
“I find it helpful to quote the wisdom of my father, who once told me, "Who knows why the fuck anything happens?” — Ben Aaronovitch Father Copy Share Image
“(...) I headed over the river to the address listed on Mr Wilkinson's driving licence to see whether there was anyone who… — Ben Aaronovitch Copy Share Image
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