Take up something that you know will never bring you any returns except pleasure-in other words, allow yourself to live the way brilliant eighteenth century courtesans lived. Don't be afraid of having a decorative life, even if all the decorations come from you.

Sports (and the often barely withheld violence around them) have become one of the few modern ways to connect with strangers. They give an amazing number of geeks things to talk about. In the old days we settled for, "Hello, how are you?

There are certain restaurants where you should photograph the food rather than eat it. These are great places to bring a narcissistic boyfriend before you break up.

Learn the absolute pleasure of kindness.

Clothes do not make the man; friends and engagement with life do.

The most amazing thing about young men is how invisible they were to you when you were young. It is also the most poignant.

The most beautiful man in the world says everything with his eyes, and the rest with his hands and mouth.