The little boy nodded at the peony and the peony seemed to nod back. The little boy was neat, clean and pretty. The peony was unchaste, dishevelled as peonies must be, and at the height of its beauty.(...) Every hour is filled with such moments, big with significance for someone.

If I had my way books would not be written in English but in an exceedingly difficult secret language.... This plan would have the advantage of scaring off all amateur authors, retired politicians, country doctors...who would not have the patience to learn the secret language.

Canada has one of the highest rates of insanity in any civilized country and one reason might be that life in many places is so desperately dull.

My dear fellow, my whole life is moved by the principle that the one thing which is more important than peace is music. It is because I believe that I am poor.

The Alexander Technique keeps the body alive, at ages when many people have resigned themselves to irreversible decline.

Some countries you love. Some countries you hate. Canada is a country you worry about.

There are times when I think that the reading I have done in the past has had no effect except to cloud my mind and make me indecisive