We are all familiar with the argument: Make war dreadful enough, and there will be no war. And we none of us believe it.

Beginnings are always messy.

It was such a spring day as breathes into a man an ineffable yearning, a painful sweetness, a longing that makes him stand motionless, looking at the leaves or grass, and fling out his arms to embrace he knows not what.

Light-heartedness always made Soames suspicious - there was generally some reason for it.

The French cook; we open tins.

the biggest tragedy of life is the utter impossibility to change what you have done

It isn't enough to love people because they're good to you, or because in some way or other you're going to get something by it. We have to love because we love loving.