On the whole, I think you should write biographies of those you admire and respect, and novels about human beings who you think are sadly mistaken.

It is interesting to note that everyone has a different take on the world, a different opinion, and given the same inputs have completely different outputs.

More than that, I believe that the grass is green because green is restful to the human eye, that the sky is blue to give us an idea of the infinite. And that blood is red so that murder will be more easily detected and criminals will be brought to justice. Yes, and I believe that I shall live forever, but I shall live without reason.

A good book is the precious life-blood of a master-spirit, embalmed and treasured up on purpose to a life beyond life, and as such it must surely be a necessary commodity.

To every separate person a thing is what he thinks it is – in other words, not a thing, but a think.

Helping other people is a drug so dangerous that there is no cure short of total abstention.

A word of advice. If, as a young man, student, you are tormented by a desire for women, it is best to get out into the fresh air as much as possible.