If I were the moon, I know where I would fall down.

Oh, for the wonder that bubbles into my soul.

Sentimentalism is the working off on yourself of feelings you haven't really got.

I should think the American admiration of five-minute tourists has done more to kill the sacredness of old European beauty and aspiration than multitudes of bombs would have done.

Ours is essentially a tragic age, so we refuse to take it tragically. The cataclysm has happened, we are among the ruins, we start to build up new little habitats, to have new little hopes. It is rather hard work: there is now no smooth road into the future: but we go round, or scramble over the obstacles. We’ve got to live, no matter how many skies have fallen.

Tragedy is like strong acid - it dissolves away all but the very gold of truth.

Any novel of importance has a purpose. If only the "purpose" be large enough, and not at outs with the passional inspiration.