To deceive gracefully is the very essence of social life. One must start by deceiving oneself, and make a lifelong practice of deceiving others; if one does it well enough, in time one might even become an artist, the greatest… — Elspeth Huxley Copy Share Image
How much does one imagine, how much observe? One can no more separate those functions than divide light from air, or wetness from water. — Elspeth Huxley Copy Share Image
“What sorts of sin?" Any sort. When other people commit them, you are startled, but when you commit them yourself, they seem absolutely natural.” — Elspeth Huxley Copy Share Image
The great point about money was to convert it as quickly as possible into something you could use or enjoy. — Elspeth Huxley Copy Share Image
“Tilly was downcast; as with all perfectionists, it was the detail others might not notice that destroyed for her the pleasure of achievement.” — Elspeth Huxley Copy Share Image
English tradition debars from dinner-table conversation almost all topics that might interest the conversers and insists upon strict adherence to banalities. — Elspeth Huxley Copy Share Image
“...that's the way to tell a true story from a made-up one. A made-up story always has a neat and tidy end. But true… — Elspeth Huxley Copy Share Image
Africa is a cruel country; it takes your heart and grinds it into powdered stone - and no one minds. — Elspeth Huxley Copy Share Image
You cannot sell a blemished apple in the supermarket, but you can sell a tasteless one provided it is shiny, smooth, even, uniform and… — Elspeth Huxley Copy Share Image
Africa is cruel...it takes your heart and grinds it into powdered stone - and no-one minds — Elspeth Huxley Copy Share Image
The Beatties were always arguing, it gave them an interest in life. — Elspeth Huxley Copy Share Image
Dogs may be divided into two classes: those who are merely afraid of cattle and those who can't abide them. — Elspeth Huxley Copy Share Image
“this was a moment of magic revealing to us all, for a few moments, a hidden world of grace and wonder beyond the one… — Elspeth Huxley Copy Share Image
