as the determinants of high status keep shifting, so, too, naturally, will the triggers of status anxiety be altered.

Bitterness: anger that forgot where it came from.

We accept the need to train extensively to fly a plane; but think instinct should be enough for marrying and raising kids.

I learnt to stop fantasising about the perfect job or the perfect relationship because that can actually be an excuse for not living.

A good half of the art of living is resilience.

What is a snob? A snob is anybody who takes a small part of you and uses that to come to a complete vision of who you are. That is snobbery.

It's very hard to respect people on holiday - everybody looks so silly at the beach, it makes you hate humanity - but when you see people at their work they elicit respect, whether it's a mechanic, a stonemason or an accountant.