Understand now, I'm purely a fiction writer and do not profess to be an earnest student of political science, but I believe strongly that such a law as one prohibiting liquor is foolish, and all the writers, keenly interested in human welfare whom I know, laugh at the prohibition law.

Find the key emotion; this may be all you need know to find your short story.

At eighteen our convictions are hills from which we look; at forty-five they are caves in which we hide.

Intelligence is a mere instrument of circumstances.

Talk English to me, Tommy. Parlez francais avec moi, Nicole. But the meanings are different-- in French you can be heroic and gallant with dignity, and you know it. But in English you can't be heroic and gallant without being a little absurd, and you know that too. That gives me an advantage.

The greatest profound pain is cased by, and is the result of our own illusions, fantasies and dreams.

Her philosophy is carpe diem for herself and laissez faire for others.