[On Ian Fleming:] The trouble with Ian is that he gets off with women because he can't get on with them.

anything that becomes a cult, or a mass movement, loses its moral and spiritual value. The crusade has to be personal, individual. As soon as it becomes collective it loses its purpose.

But poetry is not to be lived, except for the few to whom it is more important than self-preservation.

Convention is another name for the habits of society.

How long, I wonder, will ignorance spell purity and knowledge shame?

I have decided to keep a record of my inmost real-self thoughts. Perhaps it will help me to find out what I really am like: horrid, I know: selfish, conceited, and material-minded. For instance, lately whenever I've tried to concentrate on anything serious or beautiful, I've started thinking about the Spencers' dance next week. I am ashamed of my pettiness. I'm going to try to do better this year--develop my character more and not always be thinking about enjoying myself. I've always been so happy, I dread disappointment and unhappiness, but they would be good for me. But I don't want them.

The novel will never die, but it will keep changing and evolving and taking different shapes.