Never write about a place until you're away from it, because that gives you perspective

In order to write about life first you must live it.

By then I knew that everything good and bad left an emptiness when it stopped. But if it was bad, the emptiness filled up by itself. If it was good you could only fill it by finding something better.

Show the readers everything, tell them nothing.

Wars are caused by undefended wealth.

A bottle of wine was good company.

Drinking wine was not a snobbism nor a sign of sophistication nor a cult; it was as natural as eating and to me as necessary.