39 quotes
All stories have a beginning, a middle and an ending, and if they're any good, the ending is a beginning.
Interview with Don Swaim (1986)
Changi was set like a pearl on the eastern tip of Singapore Island, iridescent under the bowl of tropical skies.
King Rat (1962)
Of course wars are fought by teenagers. Do you realize that? They really should be fought by the politicians and the old people who start these wars.
interview with Don Swaim of CBS Radio (1986)
I asked all kinds of people of every age, "You know the 'I pledge allegiance…'" but before I could finish, at once they would all parrot it, the words almost always equally blurred.
The Children's Story (1982)
To think good thoughts … requires effort. This is one of the things that discipline — training — is about.
I write short stories. They may appear big in size, but when you consider it, they're four or five novels in one.
Interview with Don Swaim (1986)
Grey was not alone in his hatred. The whole of Changi hated King.
King Rat (1962)
To think bad thoughts is really the easiest thing in the world. If you leave your mind to itself it will spiral down into ever-increasing unhappiness. To think good thoughts, however, requires effort. This is one of the things that discipline — training — is about.
Shōgun (1975)
For Those Who Were There
And Are Not.
For Those Who Were There And Are
For Him. But Most,
For Her.
King Rat (1962)
Changi became my university instead of my prison. … Among the inmates there were experts in all walks of life — the high and the low roads. I studied and absorbed everything I could from physics to counterfeiting, but most of all I learned the art of surviving.
Your old teacher never explained anything to you? I don't think that was very good. Not to explain. You can always ask me anything. That's what a real teacher should do.
The Children's Story (1982)
Changi changed everyone, changed values permanently. For instance, it gave you a dullness about death — we saw too much of it to have the same sort of meaning to outsiders, to normal people.
Noble House (1981)
So much of 'normal, civilized' life is bull that you can't imagine. … What frightens you, doesn't frighten me, what frightens me, you'd laugh at.
Noble House (1981)
Because Johnny was especially clever I think we should make him monitor for the whole week. Don't you?
The Children's Story (1982)
Changi for me — of course it's easy to be wise after the event, and to discuss it cleverly after the event — was about as near as you can get to being dead and still be alive.
Interview with Don Swaim (1986)
Everyone just had to learn it to say it. The Children's Story came into being that day. It was then that I realized how completely vulnerable my child's mind was — any mind for that matter — under controlled circumstances.
The Children's Story (1982)
So much wealth and so much power, Armstrong thought, yet with a little luck, we can bring you down like Humpty-Dumpty...
Noble House (1981)
Help! Help me! Please help me! Help me!
The Fly (1958)
Maybe we didn't pray hard enough. Perhaps we should kneel down like is done in church. Perhaps were using the wrong name. Instead of God, let's say "Our Leader." Let's pray to our leader for candy! Let's pray extra specially hard, and don't open your eyes until I say.
The Children's Story (1982)