The measure of civilized behavior is compassion.

Winter is a season of recovery and preparation.

The monotony of staying in one place is the best thing for writing a novel. Having regular habits, a kind of security, but especially no big surprises, no shocks.

Bogotá seemed a cruel towering place, like an eagles' nest now inhabited by vultures and their dying prey.

Gain a modest reputation for being unreliable and you will never be asked to do a thing.

Indian enterprises seemed to work so well they produced disasters; success made them burst at the seams and the disruption of unprecedented orders led to shortages and finally failure.

People who don't read books a lot are threatened by books.