My hour for tea is half-past five, and my buttered toast waits for nobody.

My business in life is to eat, drink, sleep, and die. Everything else is superfluity and I will have none of it.

I haven't much time to be fond of anything ... but when I have a moment's fondness to bestow, most times ... the roses get it. I began my life among them in my father's nursery garden, and I shall end my life among them, if I can. Yes. One of these days (please God) I shall retire from catching thieves, and try my hand at growing roses.

No sensible man ever engages, unprepared, in a fencing match of words with a woman.

The future of English fiction may rest with this Unknown Public - a reading public of three millions which lies right out of the pale of true literary civilization - which is now waiting to be taught the difference between a good book and a bad.

I am not against hasty marriages where a mutual flame is fanned by an adequate income.

Our words are giants when they do us an injury, and dwarfs when they do us a service.