How strange to have failed as a social creature—even criminals do not fail that way—they are the law's "Loyal Opposition," so to speak. But the insane are always mere guests on earth, eternal strangers carrying around broken decalogues that they cannot read.

I won’t kiss you. It might get to be a habit and I can’t get rid of habits.

If he had to bring all the bitterness and hatred of the world into his heart, he was not going to be in love with her again.

When he buys his ties he has to ask if gin will make them run.

The rhythm of the weekend, with its birth, its planned gaiety, and its announced end, followed the rhythm of life and was a substitute for it.

Writers aren’t people exactly. Or, if they’re any good, they’re a whole lot of people trying so hard to be one person.

To be kind is more important than to be right. Many times, what people need is not a brilliant mind that speaks but a special heart that listens.