Our image of happiness is indissolubly bound up with the image of the past.

Gifts must affect the receiver to the point of shock.

Every image of the past that is not recognised by the present as one of its own threatens to disappear irretrievably.

We collect books in the belief that we are preserving them when in fact it is the books that preserve their collector.

These are days when no one should rely unduly on his competence. Strength lies in improvisation. All the decisive blows are struck left-handed.

Having a clear faith, based on the creed of the church is often labeled today as fundamentalism. Whereas relativism, which is letting oneself be tossed and Of all the ways of acquiring books, writing them oneself is regarded as the most praiseworthy method. Writers are really people who write books not because they are poor, but because they are dissatisfied with the books which they could buy but do not like.

The more circumspectly you delay writing down an idea, the more maturely developed it will be on surrendering itself.