Is is difficult to be angry with a gentleman who pays you compliments, even impertinent compliments. Especially impertinent compliments.

If someone lies down and invites you to trample upon him, you are a remarkable individual if you decline the invitation.

Getting an idea for a book is not the problem, but you need 300 ideas - an idea a page.

The way to get on with a cat is to treat it as an equal - or even better, as the superior it knows itself to be.

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.

Ramses had always been fond of Helen, in his peculiar fashion, but if he had looked at me as he was looking at her, I would have sent for a constable.

Many persons lead lives of crushing boredom.