Casson Quotes

There are all sorts of families," Tom's grandmother had remarked, and over the following few weeks Tom became part of the Casson family, as Micheal and Sarah and Derek-from-the-camp had done before him.
He immediately discovered that being a member of the family was very different from being a welcome friend. If you were a Casson family member, for example, and Eve drifted in from the shed asking, "Food? Any ideas? Or shall we not bother?" then you either joined in the search of the kitchen cupboards or counted the money in the housekeeping jam jar and calculated how many pizzas you could afford. Also, if you were a family member you took care of Rose, helped with homework (Saffron and Sarah were very strict about homework), unloaded the washing machine, learned to fold up Sarah's wheelchair, hunted for car keys, and kept up the hopeful theory that in the event of a crisis Bill Casson would disengage himself from his artistic life in London and rush home to help. ~ Hilary McKay

My second play, Yellow Fever, which came out at the Repertory Theatre a few months later was produced by Lewis Casson, the husband of Sybil Thorndyke, who was at that time the producer of the old Repertory Theatre in Glasgow. He is an extraordinarily interesting man, quite apart from the theatre. I believe he invented the first poison gas projector to be used on the Somme. ~ Dot Allan

peace and good cheer on festive days. It was voted further that any member who moves from one place to another [at a banquet] so as to cause a disturbance shall be fined 4 sesterces. Any member, moreover, who speaks abusively of another or causes an uproar shall be fined 12 sesterces. Any member who uses abusive or insolent language to a president at a banquet shall be fined 20 sesterces. . . . From the excavations at Ostia we get a good idea of what the headquarters of a rich society ~ Lionel Casson

Rose,' he said. 'I suddenly feel old. I did not realize how the years had gone by. Do not try to look sympathetic because you cannot possibly understand.'

Yes, I can. I have just spent a week with Class 1 and they are like people from another plane, but really they are just me, five years ago. Indigo and Saffy and Sarah and Caddy have changed too. They are turning into the sort of people I used to call Grown Up and I cannot stop them, although I would if I could. I would slow them down, anyway. Sometimes I want to shout, 'Wait for me! Wait for me!'

Like I did when I was little and they walked too fast.

They always slowed down back then, however much of a hurry they were in, but I do not think they can turn back now.

So I do understand. ~ Hilary McKay

He was, in military life, a sergeant. Casson had already guessed that by the time he got around to mentioning it. A sergeant: good at getting things done. By the book so long as it worked. By being crooked if that's what it took. ~ Alan Furst

To have a purpose that is worthwhile, and that is steadily being accomplished, that is one of the secrets of life that is worth living. ~ Herbert Newton Casson

It is not size that counts in business. Some companies with $500,000 capital net more profits than other companies with $5,000,000. Size is a handicap unless efficiency goes with it. ~ Herbert Newton Casson

There is more power in the open hand than in the clenched fist. ~ Herbert Newton Casson

The average man takes life as a trouble. He is in a chronic state of irritation at the whole performance. He does not learn to differentiate between troubles and difficulties, usually, until some real trouble bowls him over. He fusses about pin-pricks until a mule kicks him. Then he learns the difference. ~ Herbert Newton Casson

If money is all that a man makes, then he will be poor - poor in happiness, poor in all that makes life worth living. ~ Herbert Newton Casson

The British love permanence more than they love beauty. ~ Hugh Casson

Net - the biggest word in the language of business. ~ Herbert Newton Casson

A leader must face danger. He must take the risk and the blame, and the brunt of the storm. ~ Herbert Newton Casson

Goodness is always an asset. A man who is straight, friendly and useful may never be famous, but he is respected and liked by all who know him. He has laid a sound foundation for success and he will have a worthwhile life. ~ Herbert Newton Casson

Every winner has scars. ~ Herbert Newton Casson

[When asked if she had ever considered divorcing Sir Lewis Casson:] Divorce? Never. But murder often! ~ Sybil Thorndike

The man who broods over the past can never master the difficulties of today. Every wise man learn to forget. ~ Herbert Newton Casson

Architecture cannot be understood without some knowledge of the society it serves. ~ Hugh Casson