rudeness to Mrs. Dosely was like dropping a pat of butter on to a hot plate - it slid and melted away.

The paradox of romantic love -- that what one possesses, one can no longer desire -- was at work.

Curiosity in Rome is a form of courtesy.

The importance to the writer of first writing must be out of all proportion of the actual value of what is written.

Jane Austen, much in advance of her day, was a mistress of the use of the dialogue. She used it as dialogue should be used-to advance the story; not only to show the characters, but to advance.

We have really no absent friends.

Solitary and farouche people don't have relationships; they are quite unrelatable. If you and I were capable of being altogether house-trained and made jolly, we should be nicer people, but not writers.