"It is art that makes life, makes interest, makes importance... and I know of no substitute whatever for the force and beauty of its process."

"The only reason for the existence of a novel is that it does attempt to represent life."

"Do not mind anything that anyone tells you about anyone else. Judge everyone and everything for yourself."

"People talk about the conscience, but it seems to me one must just bring it up to a certain point and leave it there. You can let your conscience alone if you're nice to the second housemaid."

"Under certain circumstances there are few hours in life more agreeable than the hour dedicated to the ceremony known as afternoon tea."

"It is a steadfast truth that do not wait for favorable winds; take the oars and row toward your horizon."

"I like the desert for short periods of time, from inside a car, with the windows rolled up, and the doors locked. I prefer beach resorts with room service."

"My future daughter is not going to go through what I did."