The better sort of Ishmaelites have been Christian for many centuries and will not publicly eat human flesh uncooked in Lent, without special and costly dispensation from their bishop.

"It is typical of Oxford," I said, "to start the new year in autumn."

Words should be an intense pleasure just as leather should be to a shoemaker.

Not everyone grows to be old, but everyone has been younger than he is now.

Of children as of procreation -- the pleasure momentary, the posture ridiculous, the expense damnable

Limbo is the place. In Limbo one has natural happiness without the beatific vision; no harps; no communal order; but wine and conversation and imperfect, various humanity. Limbo for the unbaptized, for the pious heathen, the sincere sceptic.

The tour bus was supposed to be here ten minutes ago. Would it be possible to give them a ring to check they've not forgotten us?