Two weeks before his death, a friend asked him half jokingly if he had discovered any meaning in life. "Yes," he replied, "there is a meaning; at least, for me, there is one thing that matters - to set a chime of words tinkling in the minds of a few fastidious people."

The only way for writers to meet is to share a quick peek over a common lamp-post.

The true index of a man's character is the health of his wife.

The disasters of the world are due to its inhabitants not being able to grow old simultaneously. There is always a raw and intolerant nation eager to destroy the tolerant and mellow.

The civilization of one epoch becomes the manure of the next.

When young we are faithful to individuals, when older we grow loyal to situations and to types.

Hate is the consequence of fear; we fear something before we hate; a child who fears noises becomes the man who hates them.