Death ... obliterates family resemblance as it does personality: there is no affinity between the living and the dead.

A picnic may well be a metaphor for life. The essentials for happiness are the right company, moderate if sanguine expectations and a reasonable standard of physical sustenance and comfort, the whole being bedeviled by the belief that there is always something better to be had if only one presses on.

Increase your word power. Words are the raw material of our craft. The greater your vocabulary the more ­effective your writing. We who write in English are fortunate to have the richest and most versatile language in the world. Respect it.

You never forget the people who were kind to you in childhood, do you, sir?

Absolute nakedness was intrusive, confusing to the senses. Paradoxically, it both revealed and diminished identity.

We English are good at forgiving our enemies; it releases us from the obligation of liking our friends.

Perfect love may cast our fear, but fear is remarkably potent in casting out love.