David Mitchell

Black Swan Green

The earth’s a door, if you press your ear against it.

The world’s a headmaster who works on your faults.

Probably is a word with an emergency ejector seat.

People say your ears burn when people are talking about you, but I get a hum in the cellar of my stomach… Writing buries this hum.

“Like I always say, ‘A stranger is just a friend you haven’t met yet.’”

Bollucks. I’ve never met the Yorkshire Ripper, but he wouldn’t be a friend.

If you show someone something you’ve written, you give them a sharpened stake, lie down in your coffin and say, “When you’re ready.”

Dancing’s a brain that dancers are only cells of. Dancers think they’re in charge, but they’re obeying ancient orders.