Our father the novelist; my husband the poet. He belongs to the ages - just don't catch him at breakfast. Artists, celebrated for their humanity, they turn out to be scarcely human at all.

Sometimes there is no next time, no time-outs, no second chances. Sometimes it’s now or never.

Life is rather like a tin of sardines - we're all of us looking for the key.

All knowledge is precious whether or not it serves the slightest human use.

History is a commentary on the various and continuing incapabilities of men. What is history? History is women following behind with the bucket.

A bookshelf is as particular to its owner as are his or her clothes; a personality is stamped on a library just as a shoe is shaped by the foot.

If you think squash is a competitive activity, try flower arranging.

The majority of people perform well in a crisis and when the spotlight is on them; it's on the Sunday afternoons of this life, when nobody is looking, that the spirit falters.

Mark my words, when a society has to resort to the lavatory for its humour, the writing is on the wall.

I saw someone peeing in Jermym Street the other day. I thought, is this the end of civilization as we know it? Or is it simply someone peeing in Jermyn Street?

Above literature?' said the Queen. 'Who is above literature? You might as well say one was above humanity.

I am not one of those people who will ever be comfortable mocking or making caricatures of the stereotypes attached to any community.

I expect to spend the rest of my life in the future, so I want to be reasonably sure of what kind of future it's going to be. That is my reason for planning.

We can all change the people around us by changing ourselves.

This is how you answer a door in my neighborhood. WHO IS IT?

From an acting point of view you need to look at what you're bringing in.

The description of the world that most people have is very limited. They are in the fog. Once in a while a genuine insight comes through.

My instinct is to be very controlling.

I have need of a friend. There is one and only one who will give the air from his failing lungs for my body's mend. And that one is my love.

It ar'n't that I loves the fox less, but that I loves the 'ound more.

Really I don't like human nature unless all candied over with art.