Great opening lines - book, song or speech

[All uphill]

"Last night I dreamt I went to Manderley again."

Oh!

There's a book I haven't read. On my list

 

[All uphill]

"The past is a foreign country; they do things differently there"

From the wonderful "Go-between"

 

[Sea of vapours]

“It was the day my grandmother exploded.”
Iain Banks, 'The Crow Road'

 

[tom73]

I expected my sentence and I believe it was just. Standing as I do in view of God and Eternity, I realise that patriotism is not enough, I must have no hatred or bitterness towards anyone.
Edith Cavell , on the eve of her execution