Anyone who picks up a Compton-Burnett finds it very hard not to put it down.

There is danger in courage. Cowardice is a power for good. We hardly know what it prevents.

I never know why self-sacrifice is noble. Why is it better to sacrifice oneself than someone else?

There are different kinds of wrong. The people sinned against are not always the best.

There is probably nothing like living together for blinding people to each other.

Most of the pleasure of making a book would go if it held nothing to be shared by other people. I would write for a few dozen people, and sometimes it seems that I do so, but I would not write for no-one.

It is no good to think that other people are out to serve our interests.