The artist can within limits make what he likes of his life... It is only the artist, and maybe the criminal, who can make his own.

She was a fool and he knew it and because he loved her it had made no difference.

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

In the country the darkness of night is friendly and familiar, but in a city, with its blaze of lights, it is unnatural, hostile and menacing. It is like a monstrous vulture that hovers, biding its time.

For my part I cannot believe in a God who is angry with me because I do not believe in him. I cannot believe in a God who is less tolerant than I. I cannot believe in a God who has neither humour nor common sense.

The humour of Dostoievsky is the humour of a barloafer who ties a kettle to a dog's tail.

Unconsciously, perhaps, we treasure the power we have over people by their regard for our opinion of them, and we hate those upon whom we have no such influence.