Alexander McCall Smith Quotes

Alexander McCall Smith is a Scottish writer known for his popular book series, including "The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency" and "The Sunday Philosophy Club." He is acclaimed for his engaging storytelling, rich characterization, and his ability to capture the essence of everyday life in his works. McCall Smith's novels have resonated with readers worldwide and have been widely translated and adapted for television and radio. His literary contributions have made him one of Scotland's most beloved and successful authors.

Manners are the basic building blocks of civil soc... -Alexander McCall Smith

Manners are the basic building blocks of civil society.

Writing fiction, I really just sit there and it ju... -Alexander McCall Smith

Writing fiction, I really just sit there and it just comes.

The wider your readership, the greater the chances... -Alexander McCall Smith

The wider your readership, the greater the chances of offending your readers.

I am capable of being idle.

One of the most destructive things that's happening in modern society is that we are losing our sense of the bonds that bind people together - which can lead to nightmares of social collapse.

Many of my books are written from a female perspective. I rather enjoy the take that women have on the world, and certainly I enjoy the conversations that women have.

With '44 Scotland Street' I found myself having to work out how a daily novel works, and it is completely different to a conventional novel.

As a writer, I have readers who will have a range of political views. I don't think they look to me for political guidance.

Botswana is actually very peaceful. It's democratic. It never was in debt. They've been fortunate, they've had diamonds.

The local community is very important in one's life; the feelings of identification with a place and people.

Baboons take a bit of getting to know but, apparently, once you break the ice, so to speak, they are complex and interesting creatures with elaborate societies.

Painters aren't expected to paint bleak pictures, ... -Alexander McCall Smith

Painters aren't expected to paint bleak pictures, are they?

That my philosophy of life is, as far as possible,... -Alexander McCall Smith

That my philosophy of life is, as far as possible, one of enjoyment. I'm not nihilistic.

The point of opera is that people are moved by the... -Alexander McCall Smith

The point of opera is that people are moved by the emotions and music.

Fiction is able to encompass books that are bleak and which dwell on the manifold and terrible problems of our times. But I don't think that all books need to have that particular focus.

I just focus on getting the first scene right, with a few lines about the overall plot, and then the book grows organically.

It's through the small things that we develop our moral imagination, so that we can understand the sufferings of others.

I've also long since realized that the way to really engage children is to give out prizes; it's amazing how it concentrates their minds.

I'm interested in character and dialogue and excha... -Alexander McCall Smith

I'm interested in character and dialogue and exchange of ideas.

Oh I love gadgets and I pride myself on keeping at... -Alexander McCall Smith

Oh I love gadgets and I pride myself on keeping at the cutting edge of technology.

Discovering the context

This quote reveals the speaker's fondness for gadgets and staying up-to-date with the latest technological advancements. It implies an eagerness to adopt new technologies and an interest in tech trends. It reflects on the enthusiasm for staying technologically current.

My Botswana books are positive, and I've never really sought to deny that. They are positive. They present a very positive picture of the country. And I think that that is perfectly defensible given that there is so much written about Africa which is entirely negative.