When you're taking a fence on a horse, you don't think much; your body does all the thinking, and you're over or you're not over. It's much the same when you are doing a tricky thing with a pen. There are times when I'm writing very, very fast.

... it has always seemed to me that books are the supreme decorations of a room

For me the process works best with no interruptions, no breaks in the steady application, no letters to be answered, very little social life, no holidays; it is therefore a form of happy imprisonment.

I have often observed that extremely violent noise and activity go with good-fellowship and heightened spirits.

The sensation of falling into the past is not unlike that of coming home for the holidays.

For a moment Jack felt the strongest inclination to snatch up his little gilt chair and beat the white-faced man down with it.

The Navy speaks in symbols and you may suit what meaning you choose to the words.