But after all, what have we to do with taverns? Real menace belongs to the drawing-room.

Let her go to Italy!" he cried. "Let her meddle with what she doesn't understand!

This element of surprise or mystery the detective element as it is sometimes rather emptily called is of great importance in a plot.

'Oh, poor, poor fellow!' said Mrs. Elliot with a remorse that was sincere, though her congratulations would not have been.

Most of life is so dull that there is nothing to be said about it, and the books and talk that would describe it as interesting are obliged to exaggerate, in the hope of justifying their own existence.

You told me once that we shall be judged by our intentions, not by our accomplishments. I thought it a grand remark. But we must intend to accomplish - not sit intending on a chair.

Surely the only sound foundation for a civilization is a sound state of mind.