The war imbued my tin soldiers with quite a new interest. It was impossible to have boxes enough of them.

My father, though, could run very much faster. It was impossible to compete with him on the grass. But it was astonishing how slow old people were. Some of them could not run up a hill and called it trying to climb stairs.

I came into the world two months too soon, I was in such a hurry.

I was not afraid of what I did not like. To overcome dislike of a thing often satisfied one's feeling of honour.

My first experiences of academic friendship made me smile in after years when I looked back on them. But my circle of acquaintances had gradually grown so large that it was only natural new friendships should grow out of it.

I was always hearing that I was pale and thin and small.

Any feeling that I was enriching my mind from those surrounding me was unfortunately rare with me.