Scottish quote of the day: Sir Walter Scott

Sir Walter Scott, perhaps Scotland’s most celebrated literary son, who was a novelist, playwright, poet, translator, biographer, partner in a printing business, Sheriff-depute, lawyer and saviour of the Scottish bank note (his 1826 campaign to allow Scottish banks to continue printing their own notes is commemorated by his appearance to this day on all bank of Scotland notes), had this to say on leading a full life:

“One hour of life, crowded to the full with glorious action, and filled with noble risks, is worth whole years of those mean observances of paltry decorum, in which men steal through existence, like sluggish waters through a marsh, without either honour or observation.”