In great thick dusty books he read And hardly ever went to bed Before it was e

— Mervyn Peake

In the presence of real tragedy you feel neither pain nor joy nor hatred, only a sense of enormous space and time suspended, the great doors open to black eternity, the rising across the terrible field of that last enormous, unanswerable question.

— Mervyn Peake

It was not often that Flay approved of happiness in others.

— Mervyn Peake

It was not often that Flay approved of happiness in others. He saw in happiness the seeds of independence, and in independence the seeds of revolt. But on an occasion such as this it was different, for the spirit of convention was being rigorously adhered to, and in between his ribs Mr. Flay experienced twinges of pleasure.

— Mervyn Peake

I want a big breakfast," said Fuchsia at last. "I want a lot to eat, I'm going to think today.

— Mervyn Peake

I, while the gods laugh, the world's vortex am;Maelstrom of passions in that hidden sea Whose waves of all-time lap the coasts of me;And in small compass the dark waters

— Mervyn Peake

I, while the gods laugh, the world's vortex am;Maelstrom of passions in that hidden sea Whose waves of all-time lap the coasts of me;And in small compass the dark waters cram.

— Mervyn Peake

Life is too fleet for onomatopoeia.

— Mervyn Peake

Lingering is so very lonely when one lingers all alone.

— Mervyn Peake

Meanwhile, Bell grove had been savoring love's rare apéritif, the ageless language of the eyes.

— Mervyn Peake