I think one is naturally impressed by anything having a beginning a middle and an ending when one is beginning writing and that it is a natural thing because when one is emerging from adolescence, which is really when one first begins writing one feels that one would not have been one emerging from adolescence if there had not been a beginning and a middle and an ending to anything.

The earth is the earth as a peasant sees it, the world is the world as a duchess sees it, and anyway a duchess would be nothing if the earth was not there as the peasant sees it.

I like familiarity. In me it does not bring contempt-only more familiarity.

A novel is what you dream in your night sleep. A novel is not waking thoughts although it is written and thought with waking thoughts.

More and more I like to take a train. I understand why the French prefer it to automobiling it is so much more sociable, and of course these days so much more of an adventure, and the irregularity of its regularity is fascinating.

There is no beginning to an end / But there is a beginning and an end / To beginning.

It is extraordinary that when you are acquainted with a whole family you can forget about them.