In her abhorrrence of a vacuum, Nature, for the furtherance of her favorite hobby, has often to resort to strange devices. If she could but understand that vacuity is sometimes better than superfluity!

anger and jealousy are spasms of the nerves, not of the heart.

a successful politician does not have convictions; he has emotions.

I had no place in any coterie, or in any reciprocal self-advertising. I stood alone. I stood outside. I wanted only to learn. I wanted only to write better.

Mediocrity would always win by force of numbers, but it would win only more mediocrity.

I liked human beings, but I did not love human nature.

for my own purpose, I defined the art of fiction as experience illuminated.