If you take a man by surprise, and behave with sufficient arrogance, he will generally do what you ask. -Emerson

Marriage, in my view, should be a balanced stalemate between equal adversaries.

No woman really wants a man to carry her off; she only wants him to want to do it.

Sometimes the characters develop almost without your knowing it. You find them doing things you hadn't planned on, and then I have to go back to page 42 and fix things. I'm not recommending it as a way to write. It's very sloppy, but it works for me.

It may take us a little longer to reach the summit, but never fear, we will get there!

Dogs can be made to feel guilty about anything, including the sins of their owners. Cats refuse to take the blame for anything - including their own sins.

I will tell you a little secret about archaeologists, dear Reader. They all pretend t be very high-minded. They claim that their sole aim in excavation is to uncover the mysteries of the past and add to the store of human knowledge. They lie. What they really want is a spectacular discovery, so they can get their names in the newspapers and inspire envy and hatred in the hearts of their rivals.