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.

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

And without understanding, could each properly love the other?

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.

I am 46, and have been for some time past.

Writing has freed me from the despair of living.

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