James M. Barrie
No, no," Mr. Darling always said, "I am responsible for it all. I, George Darling, did it. MEA CULPA, MEA CULPA." He had had a classical education.Collection: Responsible
After a time he fell asleep, and some unsteady fairies had to climb over him on their way home from an orgy.Collection: Home
A moment after the fairy's entrance the window was blown open by the breathing of the little stars, and Peter dropped in.Collection: Stars
That is ever the way. Tis all jealousy to the bride and good wishes to the corpse.Collection: Jealousy
Feeling that Peter was on his way back, the Neverland had again woke into life. We ought to use the pluperfect and say wakened, but woke is better and was always used by Peter.Collection: Feelings
They have long lost count of the days, but always if they want to do anything special they say this is saturday night, and then they do it.Collection: Night
Of all the delectable islands the Neverland is the snuggest and most compact, not large and sprawly, you know, with tedious distances between one adventure and another, but nicely crammed. When you play at it by day with the chairs and table-cloth, it is not in the least alarming, but in the two minutes before you go to sleep it becomes very nearly real. That is why there are night-lights.Collection: Real
If he thought at all, but I don't believe he ever thought, it was that he and his shadow, when brought near each other, would join like drops of water.Collection: Believe
I've sometimes thought . . . that the difference between us and the English is that the Scotch are hard in all other respects but soft with women, and the English are hard with women but soft in all other respects.Collection: Scotch
Mr. and Mrs. Darling and Nana rushed into the nursery too late. The birds were flownCollection: Nurse
In dinner talk it is perhaps allowable to fling any faggot rather than let the fire go out.Collection: Fire
I don’t want to go to school and learn solemn things. I don’t want to be a man.Collection: School
He was so full of wrath against grown-ups, who as usual, were spoiling everything, that as soon as he got inside his tree he breathed intentionally quick short breaths at the rate of about five to a second. He did this because there is a saying in the Neverland, that everytime you breathe, a grown-up dies; and Peter was killing them of vindictively as fast as possible.Collection: Wrath
It was then that Hook bit him. Not the pain of this but its unfairness was what dazed Peter. It made him quite helpless. He could only stare, horrified. Every child is affected thus the first time he is treated unfairly. All he thinks he has a right to when he comes to you to be yours is fairness. After you have been unfair to him he will love you again, but he will never afterwards be quite the same boy. No one ever gets over the first unfairness; no one except Peter.Collection: Children
Most disquieting reflection of all, was it not bad form to think about good form?Collection: Reflection
Years rolled on again, and Wendy had a daughter. This ought not to be written in ink but in a golden splash.Collection: Daughter
For long the two enemies looked at one another, Hook shuddering slightly, and Peter with the strange smile upon his face. "So, Pan," said Hook at last, "this is all your doing." "Ay, James Hook," came the stern answer, "it is all my doing." "Proud and insolent youth," said Hook, "prepare to meet thy doom." "Dark and sinister man,“For long the two enemies looked at one another, Hook shuddering slightly, and Peter with the strange smile upon his face. "Dark and sinister man," Peter answered, "have at thee.Collection: Dark
You were hidden behind walls of ice; no man had passed them; I broke them down and love leapt to love, and you lie here, my beautiful, love in the arms of its lover.Collection: Love
The Elizabethan age might be better named the beginning of the smoking era.Collection: Smoking
I am aware that those hateful persons called Original Researchers now maintain that Raleigh was not the man; but to them I turn a deaf ear.Collection: Science
It was dreadful the way all the three were looking at him, just as if they did not admire him.Collection: Three
See," he said, "the arrow struck against this. It is the kiss I gave her. It has saved her life.Collection: Kissing
Do you know," Peter asked, "why swallows build in the eaves of houses? It is to listen to the stories.Collection: House
She asked where he lived. Second to the right,' said Peter, 'and then straight on till morning.Collection: Morning
Yet if he upbraided her in his hurry, it was to repent bitterly his temper the next, and to feel its effects more than she, temper being a weapon that we hold by the blade.Collection: Weapons
Oh the gladness of their gladness when they're glad, And the sadness of their sadness when they're sad; But the gladness of their gladness, and the sadness of their sadness, Are as nothing to their badness when they're badCollection: Women
..children know such a lot now, they soon don't believe in fairies, and every time a child says, 'I don't believe in fairies,' there is a fairy somewhere that falls down dead.Collection: Children
I know, I feel, that with the introduction of tobacco England woke up from a long sleep. Suddenly a new zest had been given to life. The glory of existence became a thing to speak of. Men who had hitherto only concerned themselves with the narrow things of home put a pipe into their mouths and became philosophers.Collection: Sleep
asleep to rummage in their mindsCollection: Mind
One could mention many lovable traits in Smee. For instance, after killing, it was his spectacles he wiped instead of his weapon.Collection: Pirate
His lordship may compel us to be equal upstairs, but there will never be equality in the servants' hall.Collection: Equality
They took it for granted that if they went he would go also, but really they scarcely cared. Thus children are ever so ready, when novelty knocks, to desert their dearest ones.Collection: Children
In love-making, as in other arts, those who do it best cannot tell how it is done.Collection: Art
She was a large woman who seemed not so much dressed as upholstered.Collection: Sarcastic
Take care, lest an adventure is now offered you, which, if accepted, will plunge you in deepest woe.Collection: Adventure
He was a poet; and they are never exactly grown-up.Collection: Poet
I bowl so slowly that if I don't like a ball I can run after it and bring it backCollection: Running
Thus sharply did the terrified three learn the difference between an island of make-believe and the same island come true.Collection: Believe
We have a right to know the truth; no right to ask anything else from God, but the right to know that.Collection: Knows
She also said she would give him a kiss if he liked, but Peter did not know what she meant, and he held out his hand expectantly.Collection: Kissing
Wise children always choose a mother who was a shocking flirt in her maiden days, and so had several offers before she accepted their fortunate papa.Collection: Wise
What is afraid?' asked Peter longingly. He thought it must be some splendid thing. 'I do wish you would teach me how to be afraid, Maimie,' he said.Collection: Wish
That fiend!" Mr. Darling would cry, and Nana's bark was the echo of it, but Mrs. Darling never upbraided Peter; there was something in the right-hand corner of her mouth that wanted her not to call Peter names.Collection: Echoes
The man of science appears to be the only man who has something to say just now, and the only man who does not know how to say it.Collection: Science
When a new baby laughs for the first time a new fairy is born, and as there are always new babies there are always new fairies.Collection: Baby
Stars are beautiful, but they must not take an active part in anything, they must just look on forever. It is a punishment put on them for something they did so long ago that no star now knows what it was.Collection: Beautiful
The reason birds can fly and we can't is simply that they have perfect faith, for to have faith is to have wings.Collection: Inspirational
Why can't you fly now, mother?" "Because I am grown up, dearest. When people grow up they forget the way." "Why do they forget the way?" "Because they are no longer gay and innocent and heartless. It is only the gay and innocent and heartless who can fly.Collection: Mother
The man who is in real danger is the man who thinks he is perfectly safe.Collection: Inspirational