The paradox of the English country house is that its state of permanent decline, the fact that its heyday is always behind it, is part of the seduction, just as it is part of the seduction of books in general.

He who completes a quest does not merely find something. He becomes something.

Careful what you hunt, lest you catch it.

I don't know if I've ever derived such an immediate sense of calm and well-being from any book as I did from 'Right Ho, Jeeves.' It was like I was Pac-Man and the book was a power-up.

It was so much easier to be angry. Being angry made him feel strong, even though-- and this contradiction did nothing to diminish his anger-- he was angry only because his position was so weak.

We have reached the point where ignorance and neglect are the best we can hope for in a ruler.

I studied the cello for a long time, from when I was little up through college.