Food is a profound subject and one, incidentally, about which no writer lies.

We re all muddlers. The thing is to see is when one's got to stop muddling.

Of course reading and thinking are important but, my God, food is important too. How fortunate we are to be food-consuming animals. Each meal should be a treat and one ought to bless every day which brings with it a good digestion and the precious gift of hunger.

Love is the perception of individuals. Love is the extremely difficult realisation that something other than oneself is real.

Every human soul has seen, perhaps before their birth, pure forms such as justice, temperance, beauty and all the great moral qualities which we hold in honour. We are moved towards what is good by the faint memory of these forms, simple and calm and blessed, which we saw once in a pure, clear light, being pure ourselves.

Not to have been born is undoubtedly best, but sound sleep is second best.

The most potent and sacred command which can be laid upon any artist is the command: wait.