A mistake which is commonly made about neurotics is to suppose that they are interesting. It is not interesting to be always unhappy, engrossed with oneself, malignant and ungrateful, and never quite in touch with reality.

Dining out is a vice, a dissipation of spirit punished by remorse. We eat, drink, and talk a little too much, abuse all our friends, belch out our literary preferences and are egged on by accomplices in the audience to acts of mental exhibitionism. Such evenings cannot fail to diminish those who take part in them. They end on Monkey Hill.

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

The dread of loneliness is greater than the fear of bondage, so we get married.

The worst vice of the solitary is the worship of his food.

It is a mistake to expect good work from expatriates for it is not what they do that matters but what they are not doing.

All charming people have something to conceal, usually their total dependence on the appreciation of others.