Salinger is a master of the memorable detail, the seemingly random gesture, the debris of mundane daily operations, the stuff that is left out of any analysis.

What's wonderful is to read the different translations - some done in 1600 and some in 1900 - of the same passage. It's fascinating to watch the same tale repeated in such a different way by two different centuries.

He had a passion for cricket right from his childhood and liked nothing else but playing with the bat and the ball. I wanted him to study hard and get into a government service. But, he wanted to do something in cricket and earn a name for himself.

Flattery, if judiciously administered, is always acceptable, however much we may despise the flatterer.

The average American is for the underdog, but only on the condition that he has a chance to win.

It would be nice if the poor were to get even half of the money that is spent in studying them.

The magnificence of mountains, the serenity of nature-nothing is safe from the idiot marks of man's passing.