When one is striding bravely into the future one cannot watch one's footing.

Cats always made up to the people who hated them the most. Depending on how you chose to look at it, it was a touching manifestation of trust, or a malicious pleasure in human discomfort.

Cats always pick the laps of the people who don't like them.

There are too many people in the world as it is, but the supply of ancient manuscripts is severely limited.

kissing someone out of pity is always a mistake.

I do, however, think it would be difficult to write books I don't like to read.

Peculiar or not, it is my idea of pleasure. Why, why else do you lead this life you don't enjoy it? Don't talk of duty to me; you men always have some high-sounding excuse for indulging yourselves. You go gallivanting over the earth, climbing mountains, looking for the sources of the Nile; and expect women to sit dully at home embroidering. I embroider very badly. I think I would excavate rather well.