Although the rudiments of snobbery are there, its finer developments are basically alien to the Australian soul - that is, if Australians have a soul; many people believe that they are too matter-of-fact and down-to-earth to have such fancy commodities.

On the Continent there is one topic which should be avoided-the weather; in England, if you do not repeat the phrase "Lovely day, isn't it?" at least two hundred times a day, you are considered a bit dull.

A couple from Sydney or Melbourne might leave on the same day for their holiday: the wife might go sun-bathing at Surfers Paradise, in Queensland, the husband ski-ing in the Snowy Mountains. A lucky country.

The English have no soul; they have the understatement instead.

Humility is one of the most repulsive virtues, nearly always false.

The Art of Conversation could not die in Australia; it never lived. Television did not kill it; there was nothing there to kill.

Israelis keep teaching you your own business. God knows everything but the Israelis know everything better.