He had angered Providence by resisting too many temptations. There was nothing left but heaven, where he would meet only those who, like him, had wasted earth.

As we passed over the dark bridge her wan face fell lazily against my coat's shoulder and the formidable stroke of thirty died away with the reassuring pressure of her hand.

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

All that kept her from breaking was that it was not an image of strength that was leaving her; she would be just as strong without him.

Fairies: Nature's attempt to get rid of soft boys by sterilizing them.

Beautiful things grow to a certain height and then they fail and fade off, breathing out memories as they decay. And just as any period decays in our minds, the things of that period should decay too, and in that way they're preserved for a while in the few hearts like mine that react to them. Trying to preserve a century by keeping its relics up to date is like keeping a dying man alive by stimulants.

Very strong personalities must confine themselves in mutual conversation to very gentle subjects.