Writing novels preserves you in a state of innocence – a lot passes you by – simply because your attention is otherwise diverted.

Like many rich men, he thought in anecdotes; like many simple women, she thought in terms of biography.

What is interesting about self-analysis is that it leads nowhere – it is an art form in itself.

The essence of romantic love is that wonderful beginning, after which sadness and impossibility may become the rule.

In real life, it is the hare who wins. Every time. Look around you. And in any case it is my contention that Aesop was writing for the tortoise market. Hares have no time to read. They are too busy winning the game.

Writing novels preserves you in a state of innocence – a lot passes you by – simply because your attention is otherwise diverted.

In real life, of course, it is the hare that wins. Every time. Look around you.

Life… is not simply a series of exciting new ventures. The future is not always a whole new ball game. There tends to be unfinished business. One trails all sorts of things around with one, things that simply won’t be got rid of.

You can never betray the people who are dead, so you go on being a public Jew; the dead can’t answer slurs, but I’m here. I would love to think that Jesus wants me for a sunbeam, but he doesn’t.

Real love is a pilgrimage. It happens when there is no strategy, but it is very rare because most people are strategists.

It will be a pity if women in the more conventional mould are to be phased out, for there will never be anyone to go home to.

You have no idea how promising the world begins to look once you have decided to have it all for yourself. And how much healthier your decisions are once they become entirely selfish.

All good fortune is a gift of the gods, and you don’t win the favor of the ancient gods by being good, but by being bold.

Existentialism is about being a saint without God; being your own hero, without all the sanction and support of religion or society.

Time misspent in youth is sometimes all the freedom one ever has.

Old men should have more care to end life well than to live long.

There are moments when you feel free, moments when you have energy, moments when you have hope, but you can’t rely on any of these things to see you through. Circumstances do that.

It is my contention that Aesop was writing for the tortoise market. hares have no time to read.

A complete woman is probably not a very admirable creature. She is manipulative, uses other people to get her own way, and works within whatever system she is in.

Accountability in friendship is the equivalent of love without strategy.

A man of such obvious and exemplary charm must be a liar.

No blame should attach to telling the truth. But it does, it does.

You never know what you will learn till you start writing. Then you discover truths you never knew existed.

Good women always think it is their fault when someone else is being offensive. Bad women never take the blame for anything.

Great writers are the saints for the godless.

The lessons taught in great books are misleading. The commerce in life is rarely so simple and never so just.