“In the 18th century, James Hargreaves invented the Spinning Jenny, and Richard Arkwright pioneered the water-propelled spinning frame which led to the mass production of cotton. This was truly revolutionary. The cotton manufacturers created a whole new class of people - the urban proletariat. The structure of society itself would never be the same.”
Society
“It is eerie being all but alone in Westminster Abbey. Without the tourists, there are only the dead, many of them kings and queens. They speak powerfully and put my thoughts into vivid perspective.”
AloneAll Quotes by A. N. Wilson
“Of all liars the most arrogant are biographers: those who would have us believe, having surveyed a few boxes full of letters, diaries, bank statements and photographs, that they can play at the recording angel and tell the whole truth about another human life.”
Truth“Fear of death has never played a large part in my consciousness - perhaps unimaginative of me.”
Death“I don't think you can tell the objective truth about a person. That's why people write novels.”
Truth“Nearly all monster stories depend for their success on Jack killing the Giant, Beowulf or St. George slaying the Dragon, Harry Potter triumphing over the basilisk. That is their inner grammar, and the whole shape of the story leads towards it.”
Success“Brain power improves by brain use, just as our bodily strength grows with exercise. And there is no doubt that a large proportion of the female population, from school days to late middle age, now have very complicated lives indeed.”
Age“I do not find it easy to articulate thoughts about religion. I remain the sort of person who turns off 'Thought for the Day' when it comes on the radio.”
Religion“The approach of death certainly concentrates the mind.”
Death“In the past, I used to counter any such notions by asking myself: 'Would you really want President Hattersley?' I now find that possibility rather cheers me up. With his chubby, Dickensian features and his knowledge of T.H. Green and other harmless leftish political classics, Hattersley might not be such a bad thing after all.”
Knowledge“I had lost faith in biography.”
Faith“I suppose if I'd got a brilliant first and done research I might still be a don today, but I hope not. People become dons because they are incapable of doing anything else in life.”
Hope“Like many people in Britain, I have an affectionate respect for the Queen, and am surprised that I should be having such republican thoughts.”
Respect“The Royal Family are not like you and me. They live in houses so big that you can walk round all day and never need to meet your spouse. The Queen and Prince Philip have never shared a bedroom in their lives. They don't even have breakfast together.”
Family“Truth comes to us mediated by human love.”
Truth“I should prefer to have a politician who regularly went to a massage parlour than one who promised a laptop computer for every teacher.”
Politics“It is eerie being all but alone in Westminster Abbey. Without the tourists, there are only the dead, many of them kings and queens. They speak powerfully and put my thoughts into vivid perspective.”
Alone“The death of any man aged 56 is very sad for his widow and family. And no one would deny that Steve Jobs was a brilliant and highly innovative technician, with great business flair and marketing ability.”
Business“I might be deceiving myself but I do not think that I do have an inordinate fear of death.”
Death“The latest research has revealed that women have a higher IQ than men.”
Men“I very much dislike the intolerance and moralism of many Christians, and feel more sympathy with Honest Doubters than with them.”
Sympathy