I had been fed, in my youth, a lot of old wives' tales about the way men would instantly forsake a beautiful woman to flock around a brilliant one. It is but fair to say that, after getting out in the world, I had never seen this happen." [From a column dated November 17, 1928]

Love is like quicksilver in the hand. Leave the fingers open and it stays. Clutch it and it darts away.

I hate writing, I love having written.

Of course I talk to myself. I like a good speaker, and I appreciate an intelligent audience.

The House Beautiful is the play lousy.

On being told of the death of former President Calvin Coolidge: How could they tell?

[On Dashiell Hammett:] ... he is so hard-boiled you could roll him on the White House lawn.