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

The person upon whom the schoolboys' attention centred was, of course, the Headmaster.

I did not know what it was to be happy for a whole day at a time, scarcely for an hour.

I was at home then in the world of figures, but not in that of values.

The Danish glee: the national version of cheerfulness.

But when I was twelve years old I caught my first strong glimpse of one of the fundamental forces of existence, whose votary I was destined to be for life - namely, Beauty.

On the whole, the world was friendly. It chiefly depended on whether one were good or not.