A Fine Balance - Rohinton Mistry

"There must be a lot of duplication in our country's laws," said Dukhi. "Every time there are elections, they talk of passing the same ones passed twenty years ago. Someone should remind them they need to apply the laws."

"Life without dignity is worthless."

"What I wonder is, how Ashraf Chacha can have someone so horrible for his friend."
"All people are not the same. Besides, Nawaz's years in the city must have altered him. Places can change people, you know. For better or worse."


"Sometimes you have to use your failures as stepping-stones to success. You have to maintain a fine balance between hope and despair. In the end, it's all a question of balance."

"You have a dirty mind."
"Yes, I do," said Om, "Listen, a riddle for you: to make it stiff and stand up straight, she rubs it; to make it slice and slide it in, she licks it. What is she doing?" He was laughing before he had finished reciting the question, while Maneck hushed him with a finger to his lips.
"Come on, answer. What's she doing?"
"Fucking, what else?"
"Wrong. Give up? She's threading a needle," said Om smugly, as Maneck clapped his hand to his forehead. "Now whose mind is dirty."


"The idea of independence was a fantasy. Everyone depended on someone."

"The secret to survival is to balance hope and despair, to embrace change, to adapt."

 "Money can buy the necessary police order. Justice is sold to the highest bidder."