I went to get a detective story. You have to kill time. But time will kill me too - and there´s the true, preestablished balance.

Ah, if only there were two of me, she thought, one who spoke and the other who listened, one who lived and one who watched, how I would love myself! I would envy no one.

They [Americans] want to believe that Good and Evil can be defined in precise categories, that Good is already, or will be easily achieved. ... if this optimism appears too superficial, they will try to create a kind of anti-God: the U.S.S.R. That is Evil, and it only needs to be annihilated to re-establish the reign of Good.

All oppression creates a state of war.

There was a time, in the nineteenth century, for example, when women spoke mostly about the house, children, birth, and so forth, because it was their domain. That's changing a little, now.

The arrogance of some Christians would close heaven to them if, to their misfortune, it existed.

...counselling man to treat her as a slave while persuading her that she is a queen.