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.

I never believe much in happiness. I never believe in misery either. Those are things you see on the stage or the screen or the printed page, they never really happen to you in life.

But I always felt that I'd rather be provincial hot-tamale than soup without seasoning.

It's a mining town in lotus land.

As he took her hand she saw him look her over from head to foot, a gesture she recognized and that made her feel at home, but gave her always a faint feeling of superiority to whoever made it. If her person was property she could exercise whatever advantage was inherent in its ownership.

Laughter is easier minute by minute, spilled with prodigality, tipped out at a cheerful word.

Though the Jazz Age continued it became less and less an affair of youth. The sequel was like a children's party taken over by the elders.