I must be like the princess who felt the pea through seven mattresses; each book is a pea.

I thank God daily for the good fortune of my birth, for I am certain I would have made a miserable peasant.

The lucky man is he who knows how much to leave to chance.

Novel writing wrecks homes.

The work is with me when I wake up in the morning; it is with me while I eat my breakfast in bed and run through the newspaper, while I shave and bathe and dress.

A man who writes for a living does not have to go anywhere in particular, and he could rarely afford to if he wanted.

I did not ask for objections, but for comments, or helpful suggestions. I looked for more loyalty from you, Captain Hornblower.' That made the whole argument pointless. If Leighton only wanted servile agreement there was no sense in continuing.