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It was not his habit to dwell on what could have been, but what could never be.

Alan Paton

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Alan Paton
Age: 85 †
Born: 1903
Born: January 11
Died: 1988
Died: April 12
Author
Autobiographer
Politician
Screenwriter
Writer
Alan Patton
Alan Stewart Paton
Alen Peṭon
Dwell
Habit
Never

More quotes by Alan Paton

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What broke in a man when he could bring himself to kill another?
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because life slips away, and because I need for the rest of my journey a star that will not play false to me, a compass that will not lie.
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Let me not be afraid to defend the weak because of the anger of the strong, nor afraid to defend the poor because of the anger of the rich.
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When a deep injury is done us, we never recover until we forgive.
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One day in Johannesburg, and already the tribe was being rebuilt, the house and soul being restored.
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Nosecond Johannesburg isneededuponthe earth.One is enough.
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But perhaps when you were too obedient, and did not do openly what others did, and were quiet in church and hard-working at school, then some unknown rebellion brewed in you, doing harm to you, though how I do not understand.
Alan Paton
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For who can stop the heart from breaking?
Alan Paton
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And money is not something to go mad about ... Money is for food and clothes and comfort, and a visit to the pictures. Money is to make happy the lives of children.
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I have one great fear in my heart, that one day when they are turned to loving, they will find that we are turned to hating.
Alan Paton
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When I go up there, which is my intention, the Big Judge will say to me, Where are your wounds? and if I say I haven’t any, he will say, Was there nothing to fight for? I couldn’t face that question. (Ah, But Your Land Is Beautiful)
Alan Paton
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But sorrow is better than fear. For fear impoverishes always, while sorrow may enrich.
Alan Paton
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Something deep is touched here, something that is good and deep.
Alan Paton
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For it is the dawn that has come, as it has come for a thousand centuries, never failing.
Alan Paton
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Sorrow is better than fear. Fear is a journey,a terrible journey, but sorrow is at least an arrival. When the storm threatens, a man is afraid for his house. But when the house is destroyed, there is something to do. About a storm he can do nothing, but he can rebuild a house.
Alan Paton
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The truth is, our civilization is not Christian it is a tragic compound of great ideal and fearful practice, of loving charity and fearful clutching of possessions.
Alan Paton
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One thing is about to be finished, but here is something that is only begun. And while I live it will continue
Alan Paton
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It is not forgive and forget as if nothing wrong had ever happened, but forgive and go forward, building on the mistakes of the past and the energy generated by reconciliation to create a new future.
Alan Paton
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In the deserted harbour there is yet water that laps against the quays. In the dark and silent forest, there is a leaf that falls. Behind the polished panelling the white ant eats away the wood. Nothing is ever quiet, except for fools
Alan Paton
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The ground is holy, being even as it came from the Creator. Keep it, guard it, care for it, for it keeps men, guards men, cares for men. Destroy it and man is destroyed.
Alan Paton