I sat there for some time, a young man with more on his mind than in it.

Bill Bryson Notes from a Small Island
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In Bill Bryson's "Notes from a Small Island," the protagonist reflects on life's complexities while sitting in contemplation. The quote highlights the struggle between external circumstances and the inner turmoil of thoughts, suggesting a disconnect between one's emotional state and the clarity of their mind. This moment captures the essence of feeling overwhelmed yet introspective, resonating with readers who have experienced similar sentiments in their lives.

The young man's experience signifies a universal theme of search for meaning and understanding in a fast-paced world. Bryson's narrative invites us to pause and consider the intricacies of our thoughts, encouraging introspection and connection with our surroundings. This moment serves as a reminder of the importance of taking time to reflect amidst the distractions of daily life.

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Notes from a Small Island
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Bill Bryson
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February 18, 2025
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Other quotes in Notes from a Small Island

nostalgia such as can be known only by those who remember the days of hot metal typesetting and noisy composing rooms

Bill Bryson Notes from a Small Island

Built in the hope of distracting workers from the peril of drink, it contained a gymnasium, a laboratory, a billiards room, a library, a reading room, and a lecture and concert hall. Never before had manual workers been given a more lavish opportunity to better themselves, an opportunity that many scores enthusiastically seized. One James Waddington, an untutored woolsorter, became a world authority on linguistics and a leading light of the Phonetic Society of Great Britain and Ireland.

Bill Bryson Notes from a Small Island

I sat there for some time, a young man with more on his mind than in it.

Bill Bryson Notes from a Small Island

Several of the houses have been mildly disfigured by the careless addition of electrical wires to their façades {something that other less intellectually distracted nations would put inside} but never mind.

Bill Bryson Notes from a Small Island

We're sending ye tae Wapping, ye soft English nancies, and if ye wairk very, very hard and if ye doonae git on ma tits, then mebbe I'll not cut off yer knackers and put them in ma Christmas pudding. D'ye have any problems with tha'?

Bill Bryson Notes from a Small Island

zippy new tax called VAT, which was to be introduced a week or so later. The gist of the advertisement was that while some things would go up in price with VAT, some things would also go down. {Ha!} I

Bill Bryson Notes from a Small Island
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All the things you can talk about in anyone's work are the things that are least important.

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All the things you can talk about in anyone's work are the things that are least important.

Race of Cain, ascend to heaven, And cast God down upon the earth!

Charles Baudelaire The Flowers of Evil / The...
Race of Cain, ascend to heaven, And cast God down upon the earth!

"Philip Sharpe was a soldier in God's army," says the minister. "Now he marches with the angels."

Holly Black Red Glove
"Philip Sharpe was a soldier in God's army," says the minister. "Now he marches with the angels."

For me the curse is a crutch, but the con is everything.

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For me the curse is a crutch, but the con is everything.

I don't have anything against God. Far from it. But I don't understand Him. And I don't trust a lot of the people that go around claiming that they're working in His best interests.

Jim Butcher Grave Peril
I don't have anything against God. Far from it. But I don't understand Him. And I don't trust a lot of the people that go around claiming that they're working in His best interests.

Now that you're an adult, you might still feel a pang of guilt when you decline a dinner invitation in favor of a good book. Or maybe you like to eat alone in restaurants and could do without the pitying looks from fellow diners. Or you're told that you're "in your head too much," a phrase that's often deployed against the quiet and cerebral. Of course, there's another word for such people: thinkers.

Susan Cain Quiet: The Power of...
Now that you're an adult, you might still feel a pang of guilt when you decline a dinner invitation in favor of a good book. Or maybe you like to eat alone in restaurants and could do without the pitying looks from fellow diners. Or you're told that you're "in your head too much," a phrase that's often deployed against the quiet and cerebral. Of course, there's another word for such people: thinkers.
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