Sometimes when someone tells a ridiculous lie, it is best to ignore it entirely.

Stop saying no offense,” I said, “when you say offensive things. It’s not a free pass.

For obvious reasons, I never told you about my notebook, with a cover as green as mansions long ago, which I use as a commonplace book, a phrase which here means 'place where I have collected passages from some of the most important books I have read.

When you need a haircut, it looks like you have no one to take care of you.

...in life it is often the tiny details that end up being the most important.

There are two good reasons to put your napkin in your lap. One is that food might spill in your lap, and it is better to stain the napkin than your clothing. The other is that it can serve as a perfect hiding place. Practically nobody is nosey enough to take the napkin off a lap to see what is hidden there.

The difference between a house and a home is like the difference between a man and a woman-- it might be embarrassing to explain, but it would be very unusual to get them confused.