There was a moment when I changed from an amateur to a professional. I assumed the burden of a profession, which is to write even when you don't want to, don't much like what you're writing, and aren't writing particularly well

If you confront anyone who has lied with the truth, he will usually admit it - often out of sheer surprise. It is only necessary to guess right to produce your effect.

What an absurdity to go and bury oneself in South America, where they are always having revolutions.

The trouble with you and me, is that we don't live in the real world. We dream of fantastic things that may never happen.

At my time of life, one knows that the worst is usually true.

To feel admiration for a man all through one's married life would, I think, be excessively tedious.

To all those who lead monotonous lives in the hope that they may experience at second hand the delights and dangers of adventure. [author's dedication]