A scrupulous writer, in every sentence that he writes, will ask himself at least four questions, thus: 1. What am I trying to say? 2. What words will express it? 3. What image or idiom will make it clearer? 4. Is this image fresh enough to have an effect?

I have tipped waiters, and I have been tipped by waiters.

[...] you can get anything in this world if you genuinely don't want it.

The urge to shout filthy words at the top of his voice was as strong as ever.

The nationalist not only does not disapprove of atrocities committed by his own side, but he has a remarkable capacity for not even hearing about them.

I often wondered whether any of the others grasped that I had done it solely to avoid looking a fool.

We are the dead. Our only true life is in the future.