Gerald DurrellMy childhood in Corfu shaped my life. If I had the craft of Merlin, I would give every child the gift of my childhood.372Life
Gerald DurrellRemember that the animals and plants have no M.P. they can write to; they can't perform sit-down strikes or, indeed, strikes of any sort; they have nobody to speak for them except… ▶374Humanity
Gerald DurrellThey were maps that lived, maps that one could study, frown over, and add to; maps, in short, that really meant something.332Thought
Gerald DurrellAll over the world the wildlife that I write about is in grave danger. It is being exterminated by what we call the progress of civilization.344HumanityLife
Gerald DurrellErosion, desertification, and pollution have become our lot. It is a weird form of suicide, for we are bleeding our planet to death.312Death
Gerald DurrellWhat fools we are, eh? What fools, sitting here in the sun, singing. And of love, too! I am too old for it and you are too young, and yet we waste our time singing about it. Ah, w… ▶334LoveTime
Gerald DurrellI can't be expected to produce deathless prose in an atmosphere of gloom and eucalyptus.379Death
Gerald DurrellThe great ecosystems are like complex tapestries - a million complicated threads, interwoven, make up the whole picture. Nature can cope with small rents in the fabric; it can eve… ▶313ReadingTime
Gerald DurrellI do wish you wouldn't argue with me when I'm knitting. ✨ Gerald Durrell (2006). The Corfu Trilogy, p.251, Penguin UK358Reading
Gerald DurrellUntil we consider animal life to be worthy of the consideration and reverence we bestow upon old books and pictures and historic monuments, there will always be the animal refugee… ▶294HumanityLifeReading
Gerald DurrellGradually the magic of the island [Corfu] settled over us as gently and clingingly as pollen.263Love
Gerald DurrellIf naturalists go to heaven (about which there is considerable ecclesiastical doubt), I hope that I will be furnished with a troop of kakapo to amuse me in the evening instead of … ▶244HopeReadingReflection
Gerald DurrellAmong the myrtles the mantids moved, lightly, carefully, swaying slightly, the quintessence of evil. They were lank and green, with chinless faces and monstrous globular eyes, fro… ▶268Thought
Gerald DurrellAs I watched the pulsing fire among the trees and heard the beat of the drum merge and tremble with the voices, forming an intricate pattern of sound, I knew that someday I would … ▶224Truth
Gerald DurrellWe stared at the odd garment and wondered what it was for. 'What is it?' asked Larry at length. 'It's a bathing costume, of course,' said Mother. 'What on earth did you think it w… ▶247Thought
Gerald DurrellTea would arrive, the cakes squatting on cushions of cream, toast in a melting shawl of butter, cups agleam and a faint wisp of steam rising from the teapot shawl. ✨ Gerald … ▶247Love
Gerald DurrellEach day had a tranquility a timelessness about it so that you wished it would never end. But then the dark skin of the night would peel off and there would be a fresh day waiting… ▶226TimeTruth
Gerald DurrellRight in the Hart of the Africn Jungel a small wite man lives. Now there is one extraordinary fact about him that he is the frind of all animals. ✨ Gerald Durrell: An Author… ▶216ReadingTruth
Gerald DurrellAnimals generally return the love you lavish on them by a swift bite in passing-not unlike friends and wives.239Love
Gerald DurrellIn conservation, the motto should always be 'never say die'. ✨ Gerald Durrell (1993). The Aye-aye and I: A Rescue Mission in Madagascar, p.161, Arcade Publishing163Death
Gerald DurrellAspirin is so good for roses, brandy for sweet peas, and a squeeze of lemon-juice for the fleshy flowers, like begonias. ✨ Gerald Durrell (2006). My Family and Other Animals… ▶141Reading
Gerald DurrellWhy keep in touch with them? That's what I want to know,' asked Larry despairingly. 'What satisfaction does it give you? They're all either fossilized or mental.' 'Indeed, they're… ▶143Truth
Gerald DurrellThere is no first world and third world. There is only one world, for all of us to live and delight in. ✨ Introduction by Gerald Durrell to Lee McGeorge Durrell's book … ▶144PoliticsReading
Gerald DurrellZoos should concentrate more on the preservation side of things.177Reading
Gerald DurrellA house is not a home until it has a dog. ✨ Gerald Durrell (1995). Best dog stories179Sadness
Gerald Durrell'All we need is a book,' roared Leslie; 'don't panic, hit 'em with a book. ✨ Gerald Durrell, Lee Durrell (1996). The best of Gerald Durrell, Harpercollins135Reading
Gerald DurrellYou cannot begin to preserve any species of animal unless you preserve the habitat in which it dwells. Disturb or destroy that habitat and you will exterminate the species as sure… ▶158HopeHumanityLife
Gerald DurrellI said I 'liked' being half-educated; you were so much more 'surprised' at everything when you were ignorant. ✨ My Family and Other Animals. Book by Gerald Durrell, 1956.1310Reading
