--- title: "6 Nightingales Quotes By Ben Aaronovitch" description: "6 Nightingales quotes by Ben Aaronovitch. Plus more from Ben Aaronovitch and more Nightingales sayings from other authors." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f2e/ben-aaronovitch-3199_beats_conflict-resolution-said-nightingale-is_762294.jpg" --- > [Conflict resolution,' said Nightingale. 'Is this what they teach at Hendon these days?' 'Yes, sir,' I said. 'But don't worry, they also…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-aaronovitch/conflict-resolution-said-nightingale-is-this-what-they-teach-at/) [Ben Aaronovitch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-aaronovitch/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f2e/ben-aaronovitch-3199_beats_conflict-resolution-said-nightingale-is_762294.jpg) > [Holy paranormal activity, Nightingale - to the Jag mobile.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-aaronovitch/holy-paranormal-activity-nightingale-to-the-jag-mobile/) [Ben Aaronovitch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-aaronovitch/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ea3/ben-aaronovitch-3199_holy_holy-paranormal-activity-nightingale-to_1630480.jpg) > [What's the biggest thing you've zapped with a fireball?' I asked. 'That would be a tiger,'said Nightingale. 'Well don't tell Greenpeace,' I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-aaronovitch/what-s-the-biggest-thing-you-ve-zapped-with-a-fireball-i-asked-that/) [Ben Aaronovitch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-aaronovitch/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ca6/ben-aaronovitch-3199_drivers_what-s-the-biggest-thing-you-ve-zapped-w_1695777.jpg) > [You put a spell on the dog," I said as we left the house. "Just a small one," said Nightingale. "So magic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-aaronovitch/you-put-a-spell-on-the-dog-i-said-as-we-left-the-house-just-a-small/) [Ben Aaronovitch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-aaronovitch/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/93b/ben-aaronovitch-3199_character_you-put-a-spell-on-the-dog-i-said-as-we_1746918.jpg) > [Actually I'd always thought he sat in the library with a slim volume of metaphysical poetry until the commissioner called him on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-aaronovitch/actually-i-d-always-thought-he-sat-in-the-library-with-a-slim-volume/) [Ben Aaronovitch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-aaronovitch/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/666/ben-aaronovitch-3199_action_actually-i-d-always-thought-he-sat-in-th_2119887.jpg) > [Are they really gods?" "I never worry about theological questions," said Nightingale. "They exist, they have power and they can breach the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-aaronovitch/are-they-really-gods-i-never-worry-about-theological-questions-said/) [Ben Aaronovitch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-aaronovitch/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/766/ben-aaronovitch-3199_gods_are-they-really-gods-i-never-worry-about_2557579.jpg) ## Other authors on Nightingales - [Megan Chance 10 quotes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nightingales/megan-chance/) - [ ![](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/uploads/sms4s/authors/processed/b021/author-rumi-81702.jpg) Rumi 5 quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nightingales/rumi/) - [ ![](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/uploads/sms4s/authors/processed/b013/author-john-milton-51960.jpg) John Milton 5 quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nightingales/john-milton/) ## More by Ben Aaronovitch > [“He was from Yorkshire, or somewhere like that, and like many Northerners with issues, he'd moved to London as a cheap alternative to psychotherapy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-aaronovitch/he-was-from-yorkshire-or-somewhere-like-that-and-like-many/) [Ben Aaronovitch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-aaronovitch/) > [“I left in a hurry before he could change his mind, but I want to make it clear that at no point did I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-aaronovitch/i-left-in-a-hurry-before-he-could-change-his-mind-but-i-want-to-make/) [Ben Aaronovitch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-aaronovitch/) > [The general public have a warped view of the speed at which an investigation proceeds. They like to imagine tense conversations going on behind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-aaronovitch/the-general-public-have-a-warped-view-of-the-speed-at-which-an/) [Ben Aaronovitch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-aaronovitch/) > [“Something round and dirty and white was resting near my foot. It was a skull. I picked it up. ‘Is that you, Nicholas?’ I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-aaronovitch/something-round-and-dirty-and-white-was-resting-near-my-foot-it-was-a/) [Ben Aaronovitch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-aaronovitch/) > [Coffee arrived and the espresso was excellent, like an aromatic electric fence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-aaronovitch/coffee-arrived-and-the-espresso-was-excellent-like-an-aromatic/) [Ben Aaronovitch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-aaronovitch/) > [“Fuck me,' I said to Toby. 'We're living in Isengard.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-aaronovitch/fuck-me-i-said-to-toby-we-re-living-in-isengard/) [Ben Aaronovitch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-aaronovitch/) > [“Peter Grant,’ I said. ‘Recent arrival, slacker and man of very little fame.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-aaronovitch/peter-grant-i-said-recent-arrival-slacker-and-man-of-very-little-fame/) [Ben Aaronovitch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-aaronovitch/) > [What do you think you're doing?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-aaronovitch/what-do-you-think-you-re-doing/) [Ben Aaronovitch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-aaronovitch/) > [“My mum translated this in her head to "witchfinder," which was good because like most West Africans, she considered witchfinding a more respectable profession…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-aaronovitch/my-mum-translated-this-in-her-head-to-witchfinder-which-was-good/) [Ben Aaronovitch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-aaronovitch/) > [“Right from the start Abigail used to moan and fidget as her hair was relaxed or braided or thermally reconditioned, but her dad was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-aaronovitch/right-from-the-start-abigail-used-to-moan-and-fidget-as-her-hair-was/) [Ben Aaronovitch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-aaronovitch/) > [“The mark was from the glue that once held a folder into which a library card would have fitted back in the day when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-aaronovitch/the-mark-was-from-the-glue-that-once-held-a-folder-into-which-a/) [Ben Aaronovitch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-aaronovitch/) > [It's a sad fact of modern life that if you drive long enough, sooner or later you must leave London behind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-aaronovitch/it-s-a-sad-fact-of-modern-life-that-if-you-drive-long-enough-sooner/) [Ben Aaronovitch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-aaronovitch/) > [This I know for a fact: the reason African women have children is so that there's someone else to do the housework.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-aaronovitch/this-i-know-for-a-fact-the-reason-african-women-have-children-is-so/) [Ben Aaronovitch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-aaronovitch/) > [“There’s always a secret door,” I said. “That’s why you always need a thief in your party.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-aaronovitch/there-s-always-a-secret-door-i-said-that-s-why-you-always-need-a/) [Ben Aaronovitch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-aaronovitch/) > [ You know, your species \[humans\] has the most amazing capacity for self-deception, matched only by its ingenuity in trying to destroy itself. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-aaronovitch/you-know-your-species-humans-has-the-most-amazing-capacity-for-self/) [Ben Aaronovitch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-aaronovitch/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "ItemList", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nightingales/ben-aaronovitch/#itemlist", "name": "6 Nightingales Quotes By Ben Aaronovitch", "numberOfItems": 6, "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Conflict resolution,' said Nightingale. 'Is this what they teach at Hendon these days?' 'Yes, sir,' I said. 'But don't worry, they also teach us how to beat people with phone books and the ten best ways to plant evidence.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ben Aaronovitch" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-aaronovitch/conflict-resolution-said-nightingale-is-this-what-they-teach-at/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f2e/ben-aaronovitch-3199_beats_conflict-resolution-said-nightingale-is_762294.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f2e/ben-aaronovitch-3199_beats_conflict-resolution-said-nightingale-is_762294.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f2e/ben-aaronovitch-3199_beats_conflict-resolution-said-nightingale-is_762294.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Conflict resolution,' said Nightingale. 'Is this what they teach at Hendon these days?' 'Yes, sir,' I said…” — Ben Aaronovitch", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Holy paranormal activity, Nightingale - to the Jag mobile.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ben Aaronovitch" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-aaronovitch/holy-paranormal-activity-nightingale-to-the-jag-mobile/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ea3/ben-aaronovitch-3199_holy_holy-paranormal-activity-nightingale-to_1630480.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ea3/ben-aaronovitch-3199_holy_holy-paranormal-activity-nightingale-to_1630480.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ea3/ben-aaronovitch-3199_holy_holy-paranormal-activity-nightingale-to_1630480.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Holy paranormal activity, Nightingale - to the Jag mobile.” — Ben Aaronovitch", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "What's the biggest thing you've zapped with a fireball?' I asked. 'That would be a tiger,'said Nightingale. 'Well don't tell Greenpeace,' I said. 'They're an endagered species.' 'Not that sort of tiger,' said Nightingale. 'A Panzer-kampfwagen sechs Ausf E.' I stared at him. 'You knocked out a Tiger tank with a fireball?' 'Actually I knocked out two,' said Nightingale. 'I have to admit that the first one took three shots, one to disable the tracks, one through the driver's eye slot and one down the commander's hatch - brewed up rather nicely.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ben Aaronovitch" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-aaronovitch/what-s-the-biggest-thing-you-ve-zapped-with-a-fireball-i-asked-that/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ca6/ben-aaronovitch-3199_drivers_what-s-the-biggest-thing-you-ve-zapped-w_1695777.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ca6/ben-aaronovitch-3199_drivers_what-s-the-biggest-thing-you-ve-zapped-w_1695777.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ca6/ben-aaronovitch-3199_drivers_what-s-the-biggest-thing-you-ve-zapped-w_1695777.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“What's the biggest thing you've zapped with a fireball?' I asked. 'That would be a tiger,'said Nightingale…” — Ben Aaronovitch", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "You put a spell on the dog,\" I said as we left the house. \"Just a small one,\" said Nightingale. \"So magic is real,\" I said. \"Which makes you a...what?\" \"A wizard.\" \"Like Harry Potter?\" Nightingale sighed. \"No,\" he said. \"Not like Harry Potter.\" \"In what way?\" \"I'm not a fictional character,\" said Nightingale.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ben Aaronovitch" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-aaronovitch/you-put-a-spell-on-the-dog-i-said-as-we-left-the-house-just-a-small/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/93b/ben-aaronovitch-3199_character_you-put-a-spell-on-the-dog-i-said-as-we_1746918.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/93b/ben-aaronovitch-3199_character_you-put-a-spell-on-the-dog-i-said-as-we_1746918.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/93b/ben-aaronovitch-3199_character_you-put-a-spell-on-the-dog-i-said-as-we_1746918.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“You put a spell on the dog,\" I said as we left the house. \"Just a small one,\" said Nightingale. \"So magic is…” — Ben Aaronovitch", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 5, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Actually I'd always thought he sat in the library with a slim volume of metaphysical poetry until the commissioner called him on the bat phone and summoned him into action. Holy paranormal activity, Nightingale - to the Jag mobile.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ben Aaronovitch" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-aaronovitch/actually-i-d-always-thought-he-sat-in-the-library-with-a-slim-volume/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/666/ben-aaronovitch-3199_action_actually-i-d-always-thought-he-sat-in-th_2119887.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/666/ben-aaronovitch-3199_action_actually-i-d-always-thought-he-sat-in-th_2119887.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/666/ben-aaronovitch-3199_action_actually-i-d-always-thought-he-sat-in-th_2119887.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Actually I'd always thought he sat in the library with a slim volume of metaphysical poetry until the…” — Ben Aaronovitch", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 6, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Are they really gods?\" \"I never worry about theological questions,\" said Nightingale. \"They exist, they have power and they can breach the Queen's peace - that makes them a police matter.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ben Aaronovitch" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-aaronovitch/are-they-really-gods-i-never-worry-about-theological-questions-said/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/766/ben-aaronovitch-3199_gods_are-they-really-gods-i-never-worry-about_2557579.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/766/ben-aaronovitch-3199_gods_are-they-really-gods-i-never-worry-about_2557579.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/766/ben-aaronovitch-3199_gods_are-they-really-gods-i-never-worry-about_2557579.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Are they really gods?\" \"I never worry about theological questions,\" said Nightingale. \"They exist, they have…” — Ben Aaronovitch", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } } ] }, { "@type": "CollectionPage", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nightingales/ben-aaronovitch/#webpage", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nightingales/ben-aaronovitch/", "name": "Nightingales Quotes by Ben Aaronovitch", "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "mainEntity": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nightingales/ben-aaronovitch/#itemlist" }, "primaryImageOfPage": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f2e/ben-aaronovitch-3199_beats_conflict-resolution-said-nightingale-is_762294.jpg" }, "description": "6 Nightingales quotes by Ben Aaronovitch. Plus more from Ben Aaronovitch and more Nightingales sayings from other authors.", "breadcrumb": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nightingales/ben-aaronovitch/#breadcrumb" } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nightingales/ben-aaronovitch/#breadcrumb", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Topics", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/categories/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Nightingales", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nightingales/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 5, "name": "Ben Aaronovitch", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nightingales/ben-aaronovitch/" } ] }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```