We can none of us step into the same river twice, but the river flows on and the other river we step into is cool and refreshing, too

If you don't change your beliefs, your life will be like this forever. Is that good news?

Imagination grows by exercise, and contrary to common belief, is more powerful in the mature than in the young.

Habits in writing as in life are only useful if they are broken as soon as they cease to be advantageous.

When some incident has shattered the career you’ve mapped out for yourself, a folly, a crime or a misfortune, you mustn’t think you’re down and out. It may be a stroke of luck, and when you look back years later you may say to yourself that you wouldn’t for anything in the world exchange the new life disaster has forced upon you for the dull, humdrum existence you would have led if circumstances hadn’t intervened.

No affectation of peculiarity can conceal a commonplace mind.

She had no mercy. He looked at her neck and thought how he would like to jab it with the knife he had for his muffin. He knew enough anatomy to make pretty certain of getting the carotid artery. And at the same time he wanted to cover her pale, thin face with kisses.