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100 Alexander McCall Smith Quotes To Keep You High-Spirited

Famous As: British Writer Known for the Series of Novels ‘The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency’
Born On: August 24, 1948
Born In: Bulawayo, Zimbabwe
Age: 75 Years
Alexander McCall Smith is an English author, short story writer, children novel writer, professor and academician, best known for his work ‘The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency’ series. In 1978, Alexander co-wrote an academic text ‘Power and Manoeuvrability’ and in 1980 he wrote his first children’s book ‘The White Hippo’. From 1980-98, Alexander published 30 books, most of which were children’s books including ‘The Perfect Hamburger’, ‘Calculator Annie’, ‘The Doughnut Ring’, ‘The Bubblegum Tree’ and anthologies such as ‘Children of Wax: African Folk Tales’ and ‘Heavenly Date and Other Flirtations’. In 1998, Alexander published his first novel ‘The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency’, which became a best-seller. Subsequently, Alexander published 16 books under the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series from 2002-16 including ‘The Kalahari Typing School for Men’, ‘Blue Shoes and Happiness’, ‘Tears of the Giraffe’, ‘Morality for Beautiful Girls’, ‘The Double Comfort Safari Club’, ‘The Minor Adjustment Beauty Salon’, and ‘Precious and Grace’. In his stint at the University of Botswana, Alexander co-wrote the ‘The Criminal Law of Botswana’, which is the sole book on Botswana’s legal system. Alexander also has some novel series to his credits such as ’44 Scotland Street’ series, ‘The Sunday Philosophy Club’ series, ‘Corduroy Mansions’ series. His books, essays and other writings have become popular quotations and are frequently quoted by people. A collection of sayings, thoughts and quotations by Alexander McCall Smith on irony, life, knowledge and philosophy.
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It is sometimes easier to be happy if you don't know everything.

It is sometimes easier to be happy if you don't know everything.

Alexander McCall Smith
She was made for untidy rooms and rumpled beds.

She was made for untidy rooms and rumpled beds.

Alexander McCall Smith
We all know that it is women who make the decisions, but we have to let men think that the decisions are theirs. It is an act of kindness on the part of women.

We all know that it is women who make the decisions, but we have to let men think that the decisions are theirs. It is an act of kindness on the part of women.

Alexander McCall Smith
The telling of a story, like virtually everything in this life, was always made all the easier by a cup of tea.

The telling of a story, like virtually everything in this life, was always made all the easier by a cup of tea.

Alexander McCall Smith
That of all people, it should be him; that took her aback. That the heart should settle on somebody like him; that surprised her. But she was so certain about it, so certain.

That of all people, it should be him; that took her aback. That the heart should settle on somebody like him; that surprised her. But she was so certain about it, so certain.

Alexander McCall Smith
Be content with who you are and where you are, and do whatever you can do to bring to others such contentment, and joy, and understanding that you have managed to find yourself.

Be content with who you are and where you are, and do whatever you can do to bring to others such contentment, and joy, and understanding that you have managed to find yourself.

Alexander McCall Smith
A life without stories would be no life at all. And stories bound us, did they not, one to another, the living to the dead, people to animals, people to the land?

A life without stories would be no life at all. And stories bound us, did they not, one to another, the living to the dead, people to animals, people to the land?

Alexander McCall Smith
Do not act meanly, do not be unkind, because the time for setting things right may pass before your heart changes course. 
Isabel Dalhousie

Do not act meanly, do not be unkind, because the time for setting things right may pass before your heart changes course. Isabel Dalhousie

Alexander McCall Smith
But don't we often lie to people we love, or not tell them things, precisely because we love them?

But don't we often lie to people we love, or not tell them things, precisely because we love them?

Alexander McCall Smith
Every man has a map in his heart of his own country and that the heart will never allow you to forget this map. (p. 18)

Every man has a map in his heart of his own country and that the heart will never allow you to forget this map. (p. 18)

Alexander McCall Smith
...great things may come from moments of nothingness.

...great things may come from moments of nothingness.

Alexander McCall Smith
There are many women whose lives would be immeasurably improved by widowhood, but one should not always point that out.

There are many women whose lives would be immeasurably improved by widowhood, but one should not always point that out.

Alexander McCall Smith
If your ceiling should fall down, then you have lost a room, but gained a courtyard. Think of it that way.

If your ceiling should fall down, then you have lost a room, but gained a courtyard. Think of it that way.

Alexander McCall Smith
There is room in history for all of us.

There is room in history for all of us.

Alexander McCall Smith
There is plenty of work for love to do.

There is plenty of work for love to do.

Alexander McCall Smith
I am just a tiny person in Africa, but there is a place for me, and for everybody, to sit down on this earth and touch it and call it their own.

I am just a tiny person in Africa, but there is a place for me, and for everybody, to sit down on this earth and touch it and call it their own.

Alexander McCall Smith
Traditional Botswana men like ladies who are more traditionally shaped. You and I, Mma. We remind men of how things used to be in Botswana before these modern-shaped ladies started to get men all confused.

Traditional Botswana men like ladies who are more traditionally shaped. You and I, Mma. We remind men of how things used to be in Botswana before these modern-shaped ladies started to get men all confused.

Alexander McCall Smith
The previously unloved may find it hard to believe that they are now loved; that is such a miracle, they feel; such a miracle.

The previously unloved may find it hard to believe that they are now loved; that is such a miracle, they feel; such a miracle.

Alexander McCall Smith
Special things have a way of surviving.

Special things have a way of surviving.

Alexander McCall Smith
You are a lucky lady to be marrying a man who can fix things. Most husbands just break things.

You are a lucky lady to be marrying a man who can fix things. Most husbands just break things.

Alexander McCall Smith
You have to leave your heart to get on with it. It's rather like breathing. We don't have to remind ourselves to breathe.

You have to leave your heart to get on with it. It's rather like breathing. We don't have to remind ourselves to breathe.

Alexander McCall Smith
Do you realise that people die of boredom in London suburbs? It's the second biggest cause of death amongs the English in general. Sheer boredom...

Do you realise that people die of boredom in London suburbs? It's the second biggest cause of death amongs the English in general. Sheer boredom...

Alexander McCall Smith
Sorry about your sausage dog.

Sorry about your sausage dog.

Alexander McCall Smith
We should be careful of the insults we fling at others, lest they return and land at our feet, newly minted to apply to those who had first coined them.

We should be careful of the insults we fling at others, lest they return and land at our feet, newly minted to apply to those who had first coined them.

Alexander McCall Smith
There was a distinction between lying and telling half-truths, but it was a very narrow one.

There was a distinction between lying and telling half-truths, but it was a very narrow one.

Alexander McCall Smith
How many of us are happy to be exactly where we are at any moment?...only the completely happy think that they are in the correct place.

How many of us are happy to be exactly where we are at any moment?...only the completely happy think that they are in the correct place.

Alexander McCall Smith
This was a townscape raised in the teeth of cold winds from the east; a city of winding cobbled streets and haughty pillars; a city of dark nights and candlelight, and intellect.

This was a townscape raised in the teeth of cold winds from the east; a city of winding cobbled streets and haughty pillars; a city of dark nights and candlelight, and intellect.

Alexander McCall Smith
If more women were in power, they wouldn't let wars break out,

If more women were in power, they wouldn't let wars break out," she said. "Women can't be bothered with all this fighting. We see war for what it is- a matter of broken bodies and crying mothers.

Alexander McCall Smith
The point about love, the essential point, was that we loved what we loved. We did not choose. We just loved.

The point about love, the essential point, was that we loved what we loved. We did not choose. We just loved.

Alexander McCall Smith
This is a city of shifting light, of changing skies, of sudden vistas. A city so beautiful it breaks the heart again and again.

This is a city of shifting light, of changing skies, of sudden vistas. A city so beautiful it breaks the heart again and again.

Alexander McCall Smith