"What better hiding place than an old, woodlice-ridden album of photographs!"

— Renita D'Silva, Monsoon Memories 🌸

"We must also remember that in every little village-god and every little superstitious custom is that which we are accustomed to call our religious faith. But local customs are infinite and contradictory. Which are we to obey, and which not to obey? The Brhmin of Southern India, for instance, would shrink in horror at the sight of another Brahmin eating meat; a Brahmin in the North thinks it a most glorious and holy thing to dohe kills goats by the hundred in sacrifice. If you put forward your custom, they are equally ready with theirs. Various are the customs all over India, but they are local. The greatest mistake made is that ignorant people always think that this local custom is the essence of our religion."

— Swami Vivekananda, The Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda: v. 3 🌸

"With me and India it's all about leaving and returning. Madras is home. It's a very complicated relationship. When you are away too long you get homesick, and when you are there too long you are sick of home."

— Tishani Doshi 🌸

"And how many hours a day did you do lessons?' said Alice, in a hurry to change the subject.Ten hours the first day,' said the Mock Turtle: 'nine the next, and so on.'What a curious plan!' exclaimed Alice.That's the reason they're called lessons,' the Gryphon remarked: 'because they lessen from day to day."

— Lewis Carroll, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland & Through the Looking-Glass 🌸

"you can get past a mistake, but it's much harder to get past being a cruel person."

— Jennifer Brown, Thousand Words 🌸

"What kind of knife is this? Locke held a rounded buttering utensil up for Chains inspection. Its all wrong. You couldnt kill anyone with this.Well, not very easily, Ill grant you that, my boy. Chains guided Locke in the placement of the butter knife and assorted small dishes and bowls. But when the quality get together to dine, its impolite to knock anybody off with anything but poison. That thing is for scooping butter, not slicing windpipes.This is a lot of trouble to go to just to eat.Well, in Shades Hill you may be able to eat cold bacon and dirt pies off one anothers asses for all your old master cares. But now youre a Gentleman Bastard, emphasis on the Gentleman. Youre going to learn how to eat like this, and how to serve people whoeat like this."

— Scott Lynch, The Lies of Locke Lamora 🌸

"Mistakes are always mistakes, Or so I've heard them say...But if it teaches a lesson, The mistake will go away."

— Stephen Cosgrove, Hucklebug 🌸

"Prioritizing hurt, a reminder that the clock was ticking, that some things would be left undone."

— Lisa Genova, Still Alice 🌸