Quotes from Louise Penny

But we all seek solace somewhere. Some in friendships and family and beliefs. Some in drugs, in a bottle, in food or gambling or good deeds. And some in casual sex. It masqueraded as human contact, but was closer to loathing than liking. And certainly wasn't love.

I think many people love their problems. Gives them all sorts of excuses

Funny how I learned freedom from creatures that are rooted in place.

She consulted the yellowing Rolodex in her head.

Lies, damned lies, and statistics?

Churches were either great cavernous tributes not so much to God as the wealth and privilege of the community, or they were austere, cold tributes to the ecstasy of refusal.

Florence had made a tent of her bedding and was under it with a flashlight, reading The Little Prince.

They were cahootites.

But she could no longer say she believed in God and act otherwise. She did believe in God. And she believed that Jane was with him. And suddenly her pain and grief became human and natural. And survivable. She had a place to put it, a place where Jane was with God.

Billy learned that trees had feelings and personalities of their own.

four sentences that lead to wisdom.

Gamache sighed to himself. Of all the literally divine music here, he had to have "Camptown Races" sung by a rooster stuck in his head.

Invite them back if you'd like," she called after him. "There's plenty." She was four courses upset and considering an amuse-bouche.

Knowledge wasn't always power. Sometimes it was crippling.

Having known many artists in his life, especially through Clara, he'd grown to realize they were often not the most stable, or house-trained, individuals.

There's a fine line between noble perseverance and insanity,

They need to fight their way out of the cocoon. It builds their wings and muscles. It's the struggle that saves them. Without it they're crippled. If you help an emperor moth, you kill it.

Evil is unspectacular and always human, and shares our bed and eats at our own table,' Jane said almost under her breath.

You're a trainee, here to learn,' he said quietly, directly into the slightly pursed face. 'Therefore a certain teaching is necessary. Do you enjoy learning?' 'Yes, sir.' 'And how do you learn?' 'Sir?' 'The question is clear. Think about it, please, and answer.

A tone not often let out in public, preferring privacy.

And that's when Honoré let loose. One great, long "Fuuuuck!" Even Rosa looked startled, but then ducks often did. "Ahh," said Reine-Marie and looked at the fire, while Armand raised his eyes to the ceiling, suddenly finding the plaster fascinating. Ruth hooted with delight, and Stephen said, "Attaboy, Ray-Ray. You tell 'em.

you don't get to be old without knowing grief. And loss.

After thirty-two years of marriage he still couldn't get enough of Reine-Marie. He knew if she ever accompanied him on a murder investigation she would do the appropriate thing. She always seemed to know the right thing to do. Never any drama, never confusion. He trusted her.

I think wisdom comes with age and life and pain. And knowing what matters.