One has to belong to the intelligentsia to believe things like that: no ordinary man could be such a fool.

The books one reads in childhood, and perhaps most of all the bad and good bad books, create in one's mind a sort of false map of the world, a series of fabulous countries into which one can retreat at odd moments throughout the rest of life, and which in some cases can survive a visit to the real countries which they are supposed to represent.

There are some things only intellectuals are crazy enough to believe.

Bombing is not especially inhumane. War itself is inhumane and the bombing plane, which is used to paralyse industry and transport, is a relatively civilised weapon. 'Normal' or 'legitimate' warfare is just as destructive of inanimate objects and enormously so of human lives.

Enlightened people seldom or never possess a sense of responsibility.

He would say that God had given him a tail to keep the flies off, but that he would sooner have had no tail and no flies.

We may be together for another six months—a year—there’s no knowing. At the end we’re certain to be apart. Do you realize how utterly alone we shall be?