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

The fools ran after me and I ran after the whores, foolish though I realized such a proceeding to be.

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.

When a man who is drinking neat gin starts talking about his mother he is past all argument.

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

Novel writing is far and away the most exhausting work I know.

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