My occupational hazard is that I can't help plagiarizing from real life.

From what I have seen, I am driven to the conclusion that religion is only good for good people.

Like Michelangelo and Cellini, Florentines of every station are absorbed in acquiring real estate: a little apartment that can be rented to foreigners; a farm that will supply the owner with oil, wine, fruit, and flowers for the house.

People with bad consciences always fear the judgment of children.

I was going to get myself recognized at any price. If I could not win fame by goodness, I was ready to do it by badness.

I really tried, or so I thought, to avoid lying, but it seemed to me that they forced it on me by the difference in their vision of things, so that I was always transposing reality for them into something they could understand.

Be truthful... and pay attention. I would also recommend the avoidance of credit cards.