Among the virtues and vices that make up the British character, we have one vice, at least, that Americans ought to view with sympathy. For they appear to be the only people who share it with us. I mean our worship of the antique. I do not refer to beauty or even historical association. I refer to age, to a quantity of years.

The Navy's a very gentlemanly business. You fire at the horizon to sink a ship and then you pull people out of the water and say, 'Frightfully sorry, old chap.'

The thing is - fear can't hurt you any more than a dream.

Serve you right if something did get you, you useless lot of cry-babies!

As far as the novel is concerned in my own country, I think it's in a pretty healthy state.

The mask was a thing on it's own, behind which Jack hid, liberated from shame and self-conciousness.

Language fits over experience like a straight-jacket.