The absolute yearning of one human body for another particular body and its indifference to substitutes is one of life's major mysteries.

... a less than perfect meddling in the spiritual world can breed monsters for other people.

Freedom is not choosing; that is merely the move that we make when all is already lost. Freedom is knowing and understanding and respecting things quite other than ourselves.

Love is the last and secret name of all the virtues.

The most essential and fundamental aspect of culture is the study of literature, since this is an education in how to picture and understand human situations.

I think being a woman is like being Irish. Everyone says you're important and nice, but you take second place all the same.

Of course reading and thinking are important but, my God, food is important too.