The rumble of the life outside was like the sound of the sea which was rising gradually around her.

No past to make us sentimental, no future to embarrass us...a difficult moment when you are out of practice - a moment that makes you go cold, cold and wary.

The woman had a humble, cringing manner. Of course, she had discovered that, having neither money nor virtue, she had better be humble if she knew what was good for her.

It's so easy to make a person who hasn't got anything seem wrong.

Cold - cold as truth, cold as life. No, nothing can be as cold as life.

We can't all be happy, we can't all be rich, we can't all be lucky - and it would be so much less fun if we were... There must be the dark background to show up the bright colours.

The last time you were happy about nothing; the first time you were afraid about nothing. Which came first?