Quotes from Jean Ure

To think that men and women had actually had sex together—had actually done things. Or, rather, men had done things. It was the men who did them, the women who had them done. Men who had the pleasure, women all the suffering.

She made no comment, however—possibly on the principle that once the horse had bolted there was not very much to be gained from closing the stable door—merely placed the fresh bundle on top of his bedside cupboard.

you could well be right. But surely the answer is for women to become more assertive and not let themselves be subjected?

It seems so silly, everyone avoiding everyone. We are all just terrified, I suppose. But what is it that we are terrified of? Are we terrified of catching the disease or are we terrified of being knifed or strangled?

It was so hard to decide where loyalties should lie: with oneself or with one's community?

What does a row matter? Anything's better than deceiving each other. If a relationship can't stand up to the truth, then what sort of relationship is it? Anyway—' agitatedly, Meta twisted a length of scarf round her hand—'it doesn't matter any more.

Simply and plainly, April, because we need you. Is that not reason enough?

A vendetta till the end of time?

He couldn't come all this way only to be defeated at the last by his own cowardice.

So he's condemned to a half life, for the sins of his fathers?' 'When the sins of his fathers had such hideous consequences, what would you suggest?

Mum used to say one shouldn't wish one's life away, but she could never have imagined anything like this.

You offered them physical violence, didn't you? At an age when they were too young to defend themselves. At least in the past women had a chance to fight back, if they'd cared to take it—these poor fools don't! You seem to have maimed their brains as well as their bodies!

Dangerous enough to enter an unknown community when you were armed and strong; folly to do so from a position of weakness.

Don't you ever read any of the books about women who enjoyed it?' he said. 'Enjoyed being raped?' 'Enjoyed the company of men.' 'Oh! Well, some of them say they did.' 'So why would they say it if it wasn't true?' For a moment that stumped her. 'I just can't imagine it,' she said, 'that's all.

They're happy.' 'Yes, like animals . . . mindlessly!

Even if the law still existed, there wasn't going to be anyone around to enforce it.

Someone enjoying a good perve, no doubt. Well, and why not? There wasn't much else to enjoy, these days.

Linden held that abortion was something that had been imposed upon women by men, Meta said that if it hadn't been for men having no self-control and simply using women as receptacles, abortion would never have been necessary. Either way, they were agreed that it was the fault of men.