A child motivated by competitive ideals will grow into a man without conscience, shame, or true dignity.

Guard well within yourself that treasure, kindness. Know how to give without hesitation, how to lose without regret, how to acquire without meanness.

The cigar is the perfect complement to an elegant lifestyle.

We cannot tear out a single page of our life, but we can throw the whole book in the fire.

Let us accept truth, even when it surprises us and alters our views.

Simplicity is the most difficult thing to secure in this world; it is the last limit of experience and the last effort of genius.

It is a mistake to regard age as a downhill grade toward dissolution. The reverse is true. As one grows older, one climbs with surprising strides.

The trade of authorship is a violent, and indestructible obsession.

You may impose silence upon me, but you can not prevent me from thinking.

Butterflies are but flowers that blew away one sunny day when Nature was feeling at her most inventive and fertile.

The intellect seeks, the heart finds.

I almost always urge people to write in the first person. Writing is an act of ego and you might as well admit it.

I hadn’t been in proper school in three years. My parents were my two best friends. My third best friend was an author who did not know I existed.

Partnership is the way. Dictatorial win-lose is so old-school.

Rule of thumb: The more trimmings an insurance plan has and the harder someone is pitching it, the faster you should run.

I adore clothes, I adore drinking. I just don't have the time or the inclination to totally indulge in it.

if you make waffles, throw out the first one.

The moment you lose curiosity in the world, you might as well be dead.

Abandon benevolence, discard duty, and people will return to the family ties.

To this day, I have the most fond memories of some of my old toys.

I don't particularly consider myself just an artist. I'm a woman - I'm a human being.