When people say of their tragedies, 'I don't often think of it now,' what they mean is it has entered permanently into their thoughts, and colors everything.

There is balance in life, but not fairness.

Madness might sometimes give access to a kind of knowledge. But was not a guarantee.

I think that one is constantly startled by the things that appear before you on the page when you're writing.

For most people it's easier to support an eminent person in deserved disgrace than an obscure one who has been wronged.

Human beings need unhappiness at least as much as they need happiness.

I never had, or wished for, power over you. That isn't true, of course. I wanted the greatest power of all. but not advantage, or authority.