People should be stopped from writing poetry. There's far too much of it. And if they're any good, they'll go ahead anyways.

The first language that I learned was Italian in Italy in the early and middle-'60s and I had to do that to keep up with the young men who were courting my wife.

All honest labor becomes easy; it only becomes hard when done with unwillingness.

In between the Queen and the First Lady, Nancy Reagan, sat Tony Richardson, looking very calm. Later on it emerged that this was because, having not been apprised of the placement until he was about to sit down, he had died of fright. To have expired was to be fortunate.

Like a Volvo, Bjorn Borg is rugged, has good after-sales service, and is very dull.

My niece is - her name is Sasha, is currently learning Russian at Melbourne University and I look forward to the day when I can talk to her about Pushkin.

Jack Aubrey is a tremendous tower of strength and you always want to read about him.