“Every man at the bottom of his heart believes that he is a born detective.”

— John Buchan, The Power-House, 1916

About John Buchan

1875 – 1940

Scottish novelist and statesman, author of "The Thirty-Nine Steps".

“There may be Peace without Joy, and Joy without Peace, but the two combined make Happiness.”

“The task of leadership is not to put greatness into humanity, but to elicit it, for the greatness is already there.”

“The Simple Life is the last refuge of complicated and restless souls.”

“I call upon you, young men, to obey your heart, and be the nobility of this land.”

“I cannot recall those years without horror, loathing, and heart-rending pain.”

“Someone I loved once gave me a box full of darkness. It took me years to understand that this, too, was a gift.”

“Young people, who are beginners in everything, cannot yet know love: they have to learn it.”

“I believe that the normal human heart is born good.”

“Love, passionate young Love, how sweet it is / To have the bosom made a Paradise / By thee—life lighted by thy rainbow smile!”