Los Angeles: Seventy-two suburbs in search of a city.

I wouldn't touch a superlative again with an umbrella.

Ah, clear they see and true they say That one shall weep, and one shall stray

Then she told herself to stop her nonsense. If you looked for things to make you feel hurt and wretched and unnecessary, you were certain to find them, more easily each time, so easily, soon, that you did not even realize you had gone out searching. Women alone often developed into experts at the practice. She must never join their dismal league.

The definition of eternity is two people and a ham.

It takes me six months to do a story. I think it out and then write it sentence by sentence - no first draft. I can't write five words but that I change seven.

Telegram to a friend who had just become a mother after a prolonged pregnancy: Good work, Mary. We all knew you had it in you.