They... threw themselves into the interests of the rest, but each plowed his or her own furrow. Their thoughts, their little passions and hopes and desires, all ran along separate lines. Family life is like this - animated, but collateral.

You should always believe what you read in the newspapers, for that makes them more interesting.

Giving is not at all interesting; but receiving is, there is no doubt about it, delightful.

Why is humanity so excessive in the way it does things? The golden mean seems out of fashion.

Here is one of the points about this planet which should be remembered; into every penetrable corner of it, and into most of the impenetrable corners, the English will penetrate. They are like that; born invaders. They cannot stay at home.

One never feels such distaste for one's countrymen and countrywomen as when one meets them abroad.

I can think of few things more disastrous than starting a new correspondence with any one. Letters are a burden indeed ... they seem often the last straw that breaks the back ... you should see the piles of those that I must answer that litter and weight my writing table.