I could hear rain still pouring from the gutters and a thin branch scraping against one of the windows; but the church seemed completely cut off from the restless day outside – just as I felt cut off from the church. I thought: I am a restlessness inside a stillness inside a restlessness.

— Dodie Smith

Dodie Smith Quotes

It’s hopeless to make friends with people who never talk about themselves.

— Dodie Smith

I feel quite unreasonably happy this minute, watching them both; knowing I can go and join them in the warmth, yet staying here in the cold.

— Dodie Smith

I think it worthy of note that I never felt happier in my life – despite sorrow for Father, pity for Rose, embarrassment about Stephen’s poetry and no justification for hope as regards our family’s general outlook. Perhaps it is because I have satisfied my creative urge; or it may be due to the thought of eggs for tea.

— Dodie Smith

No, that was my privilege.

— Dodie Smith

We used to manage quite well when she was away sitting for artists, because in those days we lived mostly on bread, vegetables and eggs; but now that we can afford some meat or even chickens, I keep coming to grief. I scrubbed some rather dirty-looking chops with soap which proved very lingering, and I did not take certain things out of a chicken that I ought to have done. Even.

— Dodie Smith

The caravans bark but the dogs move on.

— Dodie Smith

I suppose the best kind of spring morning is the best weather God has to offer. It certainly helps one to believe in Him.

— Dodie Smith

Neil is wearing a coat such as I never saw in my life before: checked back and front, but plain sleeves. Perhaps it was made out of two old coats – though I hope not, as that would show him to be poor and his brother mean. And it looked rather a noisily new coat. I expect it’s just American.

— Dodie Smith

But there is something I want to capture. It has to do with the feeling I had when I watched the Cottons coming down the lane, the queer separate feeling. I like seeing people when they can’t see me. I have often looked at our family through lighted windows and they seem quite different, a bit the way rooms seen in looking-glasses do. I can’t get the feeling into words – it slipped away when I tried to capture it.

— Dodie Smith

They’d be all right if it was midsummer,” said Rose, when we tried them on. “But in April – – !” Still, we decided to wear them if the fine weather held. And when we woke up yesterday it was more like June than April. Oh, it was the most glorious morning! I suppose the best kind of spring morning is the best weather God has to offer. It certainly helps one to believe in Him.

— Dodie Smith

How queer to think that the old lady in the black military cloak was the Miss Milly who went to the dancing class! It makes me wonder what I shall be like when I am old.

— Dodie Smith

Is it awful to join in this planning? Is it trying to sell one’s sister? But surely Rose can manage to fall in love with them – I mean, with whichever one will fall in love with her. I hope it will be Neil, because I really do think Simon is a little frightening – only it is Neil who thinks England is a joke.

— Dodie Smith

The Vicar isn’t High Church enough for confessions, and certainly most of me would have loathed to tell him or anybody else one word; but I did have a feeling that a person as wretched as I was ought to be able to get some sort of help from the Church. Then I told myself that as I never gave the Church a thought when I was feeling happy, I could hardly expect it to do anything for me when I wasn’t. You can’t get insurance money without paying in premiums.

— Dodie Smith

Any cat can make a house seem haunted.

— Dodie Smith

And he needs me here – I’m the only one who can cook.” “That’s hardly very important when we’ve nothing to cook,” said Rose. “Could I earn money as a model?” “I’m afraid not,” said Topaz. “Your figure’s too pretty – there isn’t enough drawing in your bones. And you’d never have the patience to sit still. I suppose if nothing turns up I’ll have to go to London. I could send about ten shillings a week home.

— Dodie Smith

Sometimes I try to imagine what happens to characters in books – after the books finish, I mean.

— Dodie Smith

I love owls, but I wish God had made them vegetarian.

— Dodie Smith

You see, you have classical features,” I explained, in a matter-of-fact voice. “It seems a waste when I’m not a gentleman.” He grinned – a little sarcastic sort of grin. “Don’t talk like that,” I said quickly. “Gentlemen are men who behave like gentlemen. And you certainly do.” He shook his head. “You can only be a gentleman if you’re born one, Miss Cassandra.” “Stephen, that’s old-fashioned nonsense,” I said. “Really, it is. And, by the way, will you please stop calling me ‘Miss’ Cassandra.

— Dodie Smith

Ik schrijf dit terwijl ik in de gootsteen zit.

— Dodie Smith

And I regret to say that there were moments when my deep and loving pity for her merged into a desire to kick her fairly hard. For she is a girl who cannot walk her troubles off, or work them off; she is a girl to sit around and glare.

— Dodie Smith
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