The essence of the expert is that his field shall be very special and narrow: one of the ways in which he inspires confidence is to rigidly limit himself to the little toe; he would scarcely venture an off-the-record opinion on an infected little finger.

Conformity may not always reign in the prosperous bourgeois suburb, but it ultimately always governs.

The fascinating necessarily tends to call a certain attention to itself; the interesting need not. An evening spent with a fascinating person leaves vivid memories; one spent with interesting people has merely a sort of bouquet.

It is disgusting to pick your teeth; what is vulgar is to use a gold toothpick.

Someone who gossips well has a reputation for being good company or even a wit, never for being a gossip.

London ... remains a man's city where New York is chiefly a woman's. London has whole streets that cater to men's wants. It has its great solid phalanx of fortress clubs.

In art, there are tears that do often lie too deep for thoughts.