Total absence of humor renders life impossible.

In the matter of furnishing, I find a certain absence of ugliness far worse than ugliness.

beautiful December grapes, blue as plums, every grape a little skinful of sweet, tasteless water

January, month of empty pockets! let us endure this evil month, anxious as a theatrical producer's forehead.

Writing only leads to more writing.

Perhaps the only misplaced curiosity is that which persists in trying to find out here, on this side of death, what lies beyond the grave.

So now, whenever I despair, I no longer expect my end, but some bit of luck, some commonplace little miracle which, like a glittering link, will mend again the necklace of my days.