Riches have never fascinated me, unless combined with the greatest charm or distinction.

Youth is like having a big plate of candy. Sentimentalists think they want to be in the pure, simple state they were in before they ate the candy. They don't. They just want the fun of eating it all over again.

Was it the infinite sadness of her eyes that drew him or the mirror of himself that he found in the gorgeous clarity of her mind?

He lifted his arms to the crystaline, radiant sky. "I know myself," he cried, "but that is all.

I never blame failure - there are too many complicated situations in life - but I am absolutely merciless toward lack of effort.

I'll never be a poet,' said Amory as he finished. 'I'm not enough of a sensualist really; there are only a few obvious things that I notice as primarily beautiful: women, spring evenings, music at night, the sea; I don't catch the subtle things like 'silver-snarling trumpets.' I may turn out an intellectual, but I'll never right anything but mediocre poetry.

You don’t know what a trial it is to be —like me. I've got to keep my face like steel in the street to keep men from winking at me.