Poverty, therefore, was comparative. One measured it by a sliding scale. One was always poor, in terms of those who were richer. — Margaret Drabble Poor Copy Share Image
“She cannot help but see a lifespan as a journey, indeed as a pilgrimage. This isn’t fashionable these days, but it’s her… — Margaret Drabble Copy Share Image
“Here in the Black Country they call good food ‘bostin’ fittle’. Fittle means vittles. Good vittles, bostin’ fittle. They have their own… — Margaret Drabble Good food Copy Share Image
What foolsmiddle-classgirls are to expect other people to respect the same gods as themselves and E M Forster. — Margaret Drabble Class Copy Share Image
“Longevity has fucked up our pensions, our work–life balance, our health services, our housing, our happiness. It’s fucked up old age itself.” — Margaret Drabble Happiness Copy Share Image
I have switched on this modern laptop machine. And I have told myself that I must resist the temptation to start playing… — Margaret Drabble Computers Copy Share Image
“The e-reader certainly sorts out the sheep from the goats, and divides those who need to read from those who like to… — Margaret Drabble Books Copy Share Image
“[on John Cowper Powys]...there is an indistinct photograph of the great man himself, gazing into the misty cleft of a mountain range,… — Margaret Drabble Great man Copy Share Image
“Fran had from an unsuitably early age been attracted by the heroic death, the famous last words, the tragic farewell. Her parents… — Margaret Drabble Death Copy Share Image
I've always thought that very few people grow old as admirably as academics. At least books never let them down. — Margaret Drabble Book Copy Share Image
“Mid-life crises, in Fran’s ageing view, are a luxury compared with what she has seen of end-of-life crises.” — Margaret Drabble Copy Share Image
Family life itself, that safest, most traditional, most approved of female choices, is not a sanctuary: It is, perpetually, a dangerous place. — Margaret Drabble Approved Copy Share Image
A man's greatest fear from a woman is that she will laugh at him; a woman's fear is that a man will… — Margaret Drabble Fear Copy Share Image
Men and women can never be close. They can hardly speak to one another in the same language. But are compelled, forever,… — Margaret Drabble Compelled Copy Share Image
My anti-Americanism has become almost uncontrollable. It has possessed me, like a disease. It rises up in my throat like acid reflux,… — Margaret Drabble Acid Copy Share Image
Perhaps the rare and simple pleasure of being seen for what one is compensates for the misery of being it. — Margaret Drabble Misery Copy Share Image
