Ian B.G. Burns Quotes

“Some people are like dogs, Ranga, with wagging tails. Whilst thou are happily watching their wagging tails they are happily biting thou with their sharp teeth. Beware of wagging tails, Ranga. Especially in cricket.”

— Ian B.G. Burns

“A boy, Ranga, is the light in his father's eye and the love in his mother's heart.”

— Ian B.G. Burns

“Some people are like drums, Ranga. They are only heard when you strike them. Do not be like a drum, Ranga, be heard when thou has something to say, and let the world decide.”

— Ian B.G. Burns

“A boy, Ranga, is tomorrow's world the day after tomorrow.”

— Ian B.G. Burns

“Try it, or you'll never know.”

— Ian B.G. Burns

“1. Some people, Ranga, try to make things too complicated. One thing is not complicated. Two things are complicated, but not very complicated. Three things are very complicated. We are very fortunate that cricket is not three things, but two things.”

— Ian B.G. Burns

Think about the future, Ranga, but do not live in it.

— Ian B.G. Burns

Too simple? An idea cannot be too simple. Simple is sometimes great, indeed. The Mahatma had a simple idea, although the British did not like it very much and put him in jail. Simple is good.

— Ian B.G. Burns

“If it walks like a duck, quacks like a duck, and looks like a duck, it is a very unfortunate situation for the batting team. On the other side of the image, although being definitely unfortunatable for the batting team, it is most definitely a glorious silver lining for the bowling team.”

— Ian B.G. Burns

“Those English always say, "Look before thou leap". But, as is customary with the English, that is looking the wrong way. I say, Ranga, to look before thou look. Then, when thou actually looks before thou leaps, thou will have already done the leaping up here, and the leaping will be much easier, if thou does it at all.”

— Ian B.G. Burns

“Thou asks, puttar, the purpose of life. This is a very large question indeed from one so young. It is a very quick question to answer, however, and this you will understand one day, or even sooner. Love and be loved, and do a little bit of good. That is the purpose of life, even though tennis is not cricket.”

— Ian B.G. Burns