The devil himself can become beauty, so we are told, to corrupt mankind." (Marco) — Iain Pears Beauty Copy Share Image
For men are held above their fellows by the gossamer of reputation, which is so soft and fragile a breath can blow… — Iain Pears Blow Copy Share Image
He (William Cort) had some desire to be successful, but it did not burn so strongly in him that he was prepared… — Iain Pears Achieve Copy Share Image
The point of civilization is to be civilized; the purpose of action is to perpetuate society, for only in society can philosophy… — Iain Pears Action Copy Share Image
“I cannot remember a single painting, although I do remember trying hard to be deeply impressed by them at the time.” — Iain Pears Memory Copy Share Image
“Although I do not need to be surrounded by others in order to feel alive, I do need some conversation and distraction.” — Iain Pears Communication Copy Share Image
“But, however splendid a job may seem when one does not have it, it rarely stands up to close acquaintanceship.” — Iain Pears Rarely Copy Share Image
“I did very much hope that he wasn't frittering away his time on nonsense when he had a fantasy to dream about.” — Iain Pears Dream Copy Share Image
“And here was the moment. The end of it all, for civilization was merely another name for friendship, and friendship was coming… — Iain Pears Beginning Copy Share Image
For the first time, she did want more. She did not know what she wanted, knew that it was dangerous and that… — Iain Pears Ache Copy Share Image
She was looking for something I could never give her." Again his dark eyes bored into Julia's mind. "You have something of… — Iain Pears Advice Copy Share Image
“The next day was a dream of such perfection that I have never approached the like again. It was, of course, all… — Iain Pears Bigger and better Copy Share Image
And a more foolish notion can scarcely be imagined, it being obvious that the reader is only informed of what the writer… — Iain Pears Believe Copy Share Image
“The world was full of such madmen in those days. Imprisonment is not the way to deal with such people; half measures… — Iain Pears Copy Share Image
“Politeness, I learned at her salon, is a demanding discipline; to convince others without recourse to the tricks of the demagogue or… — Iain Pears Discipline Copy Share Image
Shame, I do believe, is the most powerful emotion known to man; most discoveries and journeys of importance have been accomplished because… — Iain Pears Abandoned Copy Share Image
“Politics bores you?" Bronsen said. Julien smiled. "It does. Apologies, sir, and it is not that I haven't tried to be fascinated.… — Iain Pears Civilization Copy Share Image
“Odd, don't you think? I have seen war, and invasions and riots. I have heard of massacres and brutalities beyond imagining, and… — Iain Pears Bad person Copy Share Image
When all this is over, people will try to blame the Germans alone, and the Germans will try to blame the Nazis… — Iain Pears Bears Copy Share Image
In my small way, I preserved and catalogued, and dipped into the vast ocean of learning that awaited, knowing all the time… — Iain Pears Desire Copy Share Image
“A hundred francs! Oh, dear me! It is worth millions of francs, my child. But my -- dealer -- here tells me… — Iain Pears Art Copy Share Image
“Olivier took a deep breath, then turned and bowed in farewell. Gersonides nodded in return, then thought of something. "The manuscript you… — Iain Pears Action Copy Share Image
Manlius ... took care in his invitations, actively sought to exclude from his circle crude and vulgar men like Caius Valerius. But… — Iain Pears Absurdity Copy Share Image
Action is the activity of the rational soul, which abhors irrationality and must combat it or be corrupted by it. When it… — Iain Pears Action Copy Share Image
“[H]e initially conceived of Olivier as a man of the greatest promise destroyed by a fatal flaw, the unreasoning passion for a… — Iain Pears Destruction Copy Share Image
“[Pope] Clement waved his hands in irritation as if to dismiss the very idea. "The world is crumbling into ruin. Armies are… — Iain Pears Chaos Copy Share Image
“[T]he concern of man is not his future but his present, not the world but his soul. We must be just, we… — Iain Pears Action Copy Share Image
“Young men of my type are prone to be impatient of details, and give their loyalties without regard to evidence.” — Iain Pears Loyalties Copy Share Image
“His idleness was his refuge, and in this he was like many others in [occupied] France in that period; laziness became political.” — Iain Pears Idleness Copy Share Image
“When an experiment was to begin, all women were excluded for fear their irrational natures would influence the result, and an air… — Iain Pears Experiments Copy Share Image
“The French, I knew, were well ahead in this area, constructing gigantic palaces in the centre of cities which offer every luxury… — Iain Pears Copy Share Image
![“[H]e initially conceived of Olivier as a man of the greatest promise destroyed by a fatal flaw, the unreasoning passion for a woman dissolving into violence, desperately weakening everything he tried to do. For how could learning and poetry be defended when it produced such dreadful results and…” quote by Iain Pears](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/965/iain-pears-9652_destruction_h-e-initially-conceived-of-olivier-as-a_1103986.jpg)
![“[Pope] Clement waved his hands in irritation as if to dismiss the very idea. "The world is crumbling into ruin. Armies are marching. Men and women are dying everywhere, in huge numbers. Fields are abandoned and towns deserted. The wrath of the Lord is upon us and He may be intending to destroy the…” quote by Iain Pears](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/dd8/iain-pears-9652_chaos_pope-clement-waved-his-hands-in-irritati_2303657.jpg)
![“[T]he concern of man is not his future but his present, not the world but his soul. We must be just, we must strive, we must engage ourselves with the business of the world for our own sake, because through that, and through contemplation in equal measure, our soul is purified and brought closer…” quote by Iain Pears](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/428/iain-pears-9652_action_t-he-concern-of-man-is-not-his-future-bu_1687578.jpg)
![“His idleness was his refuge, and in this he was like many others in [occupied] France in that period; laziness became political.” quote by Iain Pears](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/747/iain-pears-9652_idleness_his-idleness-was-his-refuge-and-in-this_3095522.jpg)
