"It's rather a precious thought, isn't it, John ?" "Do you consider that statement to be pure piffle ?" "Partly, dear friend.

But I'm one of those nobodies who cherish a degenerate belief that man comes first, and then his works, and that the main idea is to get through life as happily as possible with the minimum of inconvenience to others.

Human happiness is what I venture to consider more important than the gim-cracks created by those same humans.

Man first, then man's work, that's the order of mundane importance to me.

And if you've got to criticise the work, for God's sake do it with your hand on the man's shoulder." "Our little socialist," said Ogilvy, patting Annan's blonde head.