Most writers in the course of their careers become thick-skinned and learn to accept vituperation, which in any other profession would be unimaginably offensive, as a healthy counterpoise to unintelligent praise.

My unhealthy affection for my second daughter has waned. Now I despise all my seven children equally.

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.

I do not believe the expenditure of $2.50 for a book entitles the purchaser to the personal friendship of the author.

Sometimes, I feel the past and the future pressing so hard on either side that there's no room for the present at all.

One has to regard a man as a Master who can produce on average three uniquely brilliant and entirely original similes to every page.

The worse I am, the more I need God. I can't shut myself out from His mercy. That is what it would mean; starting a life with you, without Him. Julia to Charles