Of course you have to believe in destiny; that everything is sheer chance is an intolerable notion.

People fail you, children disappoint you, thieves break in, moths corrupt, but an Order of the British Empire goes on for ever.

No one should be allowed to give back the gift of life, unless they are very old and full of tears, when the body outlives the spirit, when they should be allowed to join the others who've already gone.

Of course you have to believe in destiny; that everything is sheer chance is an intolerable notion.

If you wake up in the morning with a great sense of the things that have to be done in the day in order to get through to the next day, you lose the sense of the day as any kind of end in itself.

one learns best, and writes best, in a state of defiance.

Pride is what you can afford or think you can afford.