I used to regard a road sweeper as a person inferior to mys… - John le Carré

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I used to regard a road sweeper as a person inferior to myself. Now, I rather doubt it. Something is dirty, he makes it clean, and the state of the world is advanced. But I—what have I done? Entrenched a ruling class which is distinguished by neither talent, culture, nor wit; kept alive for one more generation the distinctions of a dead age.

John le Carré

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About John le Carré

John le Carré is the pen-name of David John Moore Cornwell (19 October 1931 – 12 December 2020), who was a British writer of spy novels and a former spy himself.

Biography information from Wikiquote

Also Known As

Birth Name: David John Moore Cornwell

Alternative Names: David Cornwell • John le Carre

All quotes from John le Carré Similar Quotes by other Originators

Originators like John le Carré:

Norman Mailer George Orwell John Brunner John Steinbeck Lois McMaster Bujold

Additional quotes by John le Carré

He would set up as a mild eccentric, discursive, withdrawn, but possessing one or two lovable habits such as muttering to himself as he bumbled along pavements. Out of date, perhaps, but who wasn't these days? Out of date, but loyal to his own time. At a certain moment, after all, every man chooses: will he go forward, will he go back? There was nothing dishonourable in not being blown about by every little modern wind. Better to have worth, to entrench, to be an oak of one's own generation.

...in the hands of politicians grand designs achieve nothing but new forms of the old misery...

Guns have their own silence. It is the silence of the dead to come.

I used to regard a road sweeper as a person inferior to myself. Now, I rather doubt it. Something is dirty, he makes it clean, and the state of the w… - John le Carré

About John le Carré

Also Known As

Additional quotes by John le Carré