If people would forget about utopia! When rationalism destroyed heaven and decided to set it up here on earth, that most terrible of all goals entered human ambition. It was clear there'd be no end to what people would be made to suffer for it.

Written words still have the amazing power to bring out the best and worst of human nature

Everyone ends up moving alone towards the self

Can you imagine a writer in England influencing? Absolutely not. And in France? It used to be, but no more-absolutely not. France used to, at least, have writers as diplomats, but not any more.

Responsibility is what awaits outside the Eden of Creativity.

I have learned since that sometimes the things we want most are impossible for us. You may long to come home, yet wander forever.

If you live in Europe . . . things change . . . but continuity never seems to break. You don't have to throw the past away.