In dress, habits, manners, provincialism, routine and narrowness, he acquired that charming insolence, that irritating completeness, that sophisticated crassness, that overbalanced poise that makes the Manhattan gentleman so delightfully small in its greatness.

If you can't write a story that pleases yourself, you will never please the public. But in writing the story forget the public.

Life is made up of sobs, sniffles, and smiles, with sniffles predominating.

A burglar who respects his art always takes his time before taking anything else.

Humans were denied the speech of animals. The only common ground of communication upon which dogs and men can get together is in fiction.

Perhaps there is no happiness in life so perfect as the martyr's.

O all who give and receive gifts, such as they are wisest. Everywhere they are wisest. They are the magi.