Humans are very seldom either totally sincere or totally hypocritical. Their moods change, their motives are mixed, and they are often quite mistaken as to what their motives are.

Badness cannot succeed even in being bad in the same way in which goodness is good. Goodness is, so to speak, itself: badness is only spoiled goodness. Evil is a parasite, not an original thing.

Disobedience to conscience is voluntary; bad poetry, on the other hand, is usually not made on purpose.

He liked books if they were books of information and had pictures of grain elevators or of fat foreign children doing exercises in model schools.

If you simply try to tell the truth you will, nine times out of ten, be original without ever having noticed it.

I find that when I think I am asking God to forgive me I am often in reality. . . asking Him not to forgive me but to excuse me.

Tea should be taken in solitude.