About John Mortimer

Sir John Clifford Mortimer was a British barrister, dramatist, screenwriter and author. He is best known for short stories about a barrister named Horace Rumpole, adapted from episodes of the TV series Rumpole of the Bailey also written by Mortimer.

More about the author

More quotes from John Mortimer

There is always time for failure.

John Mortimer

British barrister, dramatist, screenwriter and author (1923-2009)

The worst fault of the working classes is telling their children they’re not going to succeed.

John Mortimer

British barrister, dramatist, screenwriter and author (1923-2009)

I suppose that writers should, in a way, feel flattered by the censorship laws. They show a primitive fear and dread at the fearful magic of print.

John Mortimer

British barrister, dramatist, screenwriter and author (1923-2009)

There is no pleasure worth forgoing just for an extra three years in the geriatric ward.

John Mortimer

British barrister, dramatist, screenwriter and author (1923-2009)

The shelf life of the modern hardback writer is somewhere between the milk and the yogurt.

John Mortimer

British barrister, dramatist, screenwriter and author (1923-2009)

Farce is tragedy played at a thousand revolutions per minute.

John Mortimer

British barrister, dramatist, screenwriter and author (1923-2009)

The freedom to make a fortune on the stock exchange has been made to sound more alluring than freedom of speech.

John Mortimer

British barrister, dramatist, screenwriter and author (1923-2009)

I refuse to spend my life worrying about what I eat. There is no pleasure worth forgoing just for an extra three years in the geriatric ward.

John Mortimer

British barrister, dramatist, screenwriter and author (1923-2009)

All the flower children were as alike as a congress of accountants and about as interesting.

John Mortimer

British barrister, dramatist, screenwriter and author (1923-2009)

To escape jury duty in England, wear a bowler hat and carry a copy of the Daily telegraph.

John Mortimer

British barrister, dramatist, screenwriter and author (1923-2009)

The only rule I have found to have any validity in writing is not to bore yourself.

John Mortimer

British barrister, dramatist, screenwriter and author (1923-2009)

No brilliance is needed in the law. Nothing but common sense, and relatively clean finger nails.

John Mortimer

British barrister, dramatist, screenwriter and author (1923-2009)