In mixed company women practise a kind of visual shorthand that they later decode in detail in other women's company.

The glance embroiders in joy, knits in pain, and sews in boredom. When indifferent, the eye takes stills, when interested, movies. Laughter is regional: a smile extends over the whole face.

The flower in the vase smiles, but no longer laughs.

Our expression and our words never coincide, which is why the animals don't understand us.

Women eat while they are talking; men talk while they are eating.

We always keep God waiting while we admit more importunate suitors.

The ring always believes that the finger lives for it.