I've tried very hard and I've never found any resemblance between the people I know and the people in my novels.

I have loved to the point of madness; That which is called madness, That which to me, Is the only sensible way to love.

A love affair based on jealousy is doomed from the start ... It is certanly a sign of love, but it's a sign that it's already dying.

Life has confirmed for me the thoughts and impressions I had when I was 18, as if it was all intuition.

Looking for pleasure is the best way to ensure you won't find it.

At night, time becomes a calm sea. It goes on for ever.

I don't think there's any intrinsic difference between a lover and a husband. ... If I were cynical, I would say that a woman should have both a good husband and a lover. But I'm not cynical so I'll just say that a woman should have a lover who's a good husband and a husband who's a good lover, perhaps both.