It is very hard, that necessity of listening to a man who says nothing

Success is the necessary misfortune of life, but it is only to the very unfortunate that it comes early.

Of course, Lady Arabella could not suckle the young heir herself. Ladies Arabella never can. They are gifted with the powers of being mothers, but not nursing mothers. Nature gives them bosoms for show, but not for use. So Lady Arabella had a wet-nurse.

Speaking of New York as a traveller I have two faults to find with it. In the first place there is nothing to see; and in the second place there is no mode of getting about to see anything.

I believe journalism is coming to be regarded as quite a respectable occupation for gentlemen nowadays.

He was one of those men who, as in youth they are never very young, so in age are they never very old.

A novelist's characters must be with him as he lies down to sleep, and as he wakes from his dreams. He must learn to hate them and to love them.