Dorothy Sayers Gaudy Night Quotes & Sayings

There is only one kind of wisdom that has any social value, and that is the knowledge of one's own limitations. — Dorothy L. Sayers

She went to bed thinking more about another person than about herself. This goes to prove that even minor poetry may have its practical uses. — Dorothy L. Sayers

What do you want me to do, Peter?"
"Chuck the ball back to me if it runs out of the circle. Not obviously. Just exercise your devastating talent for keeping to the point and speaking the truth."
"That sounds easy."
"It is
for you. That's what I love you for."
Gaudy Night — Dorothy L. Sayers

The first thing a principle does is to kill somebody.
Gaudy Night — Dorothy L. Sayers

She could have made a much better thing of that, if she had not been afraid of giving herself away. What hampered her was this sense of being in the middle of things, too close to things, pressed upon and bullied by reality. If she could succeed in standing aside from herself she would achieve self-confidence and a better control. — Dorothy L. Sayers

The incident had that rich savor of the ludicrous which neither pity nor charity can destroy. Unfortunately, she could not in decency share it with anybody; she could only enjoy it in lonely ecstasies of mirth. — Dorothy L. Sayers

Detachment is a rare virtue, and very few people find it lovable, either in themselves or in others. If you ever find a person who likes you in spite of it-still more, because of it-that liking has very great value, because it is perfectly sincere, and because, with that person, you will never need to be anything but sincere yourself. — Dorothy L. Sayers

Harriet grinned at Betty Armstrong, hearing the familiar academic wrangle begin. Before ten minutes had passed, somebody had introduced the word "values." An hour later they were still at it. Finally the Bursar was heard to quote: "God made the integers; all else is the work of man." "Oh, bother!" cried the Dean. "Do let's keep mathematics out of it. And physics. I cannot cope with them. — Dorothy L. Sayers