I came to the conclusion then that "continual mindfulness". . . must mean, not a sergeantmajor-like drilling of thoughts, but a continual readiness to accept whatever came.

Once you assume your right to interfere in other people's problems they become in some ways more of a worry than your own, for with your own you can at least do what you think best, but other people always show such a persistent tendency to do the wrong thing.

The growth of understanding follows an ascending spiral rather than a straight line.

It's weak and despicable to go on wanting things and not trying to get them.

Like a fierce wind roaring high up in the bare branches of trees, a wave of passion came over me, aimless but surging . . . I suppose it's lust, but it's awful and holy like thunder and lightning and the wind.

Sometimes I find that in my happy moments I could not believe that I had ever been miserable.

Colour is, on the evidence of language alone, very bound up with the feelings.