“Growing up, I learnt to think, 'Let's make it a big night tonight, as ...” — John Burnside Quote

“Growing up, I learnt to think, 'Let's make it a big night tonight, as you never know what's going to happen next.' So now I have enough, I take too much; when I get the chance to have a fine dinner, I will. And it's had an effect on my health.”

“Growing up, I lived in a house without art: no picture books on the shelves, no visits to museums, no posters on the bedroom wall.”

“In time, we will have to recognise that it is not 'nature' that we need to protect, but ourselves, and we can only do this by abandoning the old, grandiose, profit-seeking schemes so beloved of our masters and learning to till the soil, live to scale, and live within our means.”

“I love a dinner, but I love a night in.”

“A talented child will have a schedule that is horrendous. You get up and practice, go to school, practice some more, eat dinner, and then you have homework.”

“My parents discussed singing every night over the dinner table; I had a tremendous music education.”