You wanted to look at life for yourself - but you were not allowed; you were punished for your wish. You were ground in the very mill of the conventional.

The girl had a certain nobleness of imagination, which rendered her a good many services and played her a great many tricks.

The black and merciless things that are behind the great possessions.

It is art that makes life, makes interest, makes importance.

Though there are some disagreeable things in Venice there is nothing so disagreeable as the visitors.

Make the short story tremendously succinct - with a very short pulse or rhythm - and the closest selection of detail - in other words summarise intensely and deeply and keep down the lateral development. It should be a little gem of bright, quick, vivid form

Which of you with taking thought can add to his stature one cubit?