The darker the subject, the more light you must try to shed on the matter. And vice versa.

Few women care to be laughed at and men not at all, except for large sums of money.

As a writer one is allowed to have conversations with oneself. What is considered sane in writers is made for the rest of the human race.

There is a school of thought that believes that sleep is for the night. You appear to be out to disprove them.

A comedy is just a tragedy interrupted, I once said. Do you finish with the kiss or when she opens her eyes to tell him she loves him and sees blonde hairs on his collar?

There are very few people on top of life, and the rest of us don't like them very much.

If you are flattering a woman, it pays to be a little more subtle. You don't have to bother with men, they believe any compliment automatically.

A gentleman ... sleeps at his work. That's what work's for. Why do you think they have the SILENCE notices in the library? So as not to disturb me in my little nook behind the biography shelves.

Cats names are more for human benefit. They give one a certain degree more confidence that the animal belongs to you.

Salad, I can't bear salad. It grows while you're eating it, you know.

He really is terribly heavy going. Like running up hill in roller skates.

There is nothing more luxurious than eating while you read—unless it be reading while you eat. Amabel did both: they are not the same thing, as you will see if you think the matter over.

When you are mad, mad like this, you don't know it. Reality is what you see. When what you see shifts, departing from anyone else's reality, it's still reality to you.

Your hypocrisy insults my intelligence.

Only mediocre ideas can be tested.

Living becomes an awesome business when you realize that you spend every moment of your life in the sight and company of an omniscient, omnipresent Creator.

There should be more booing in shops and restaurants and places like that when when the service is bad. If you've had a poor breakfast in a hotel, you should put your knife and fork down and boo.

Get back on the bike and tell me where to go." "I'll tell you where to go," I muttered sourly, and he laughed.

As a professional, I think we're not being judged solely on technical ability anymore. People really want to be entertained and enjoy what they're watching.

The one thing we all have in common is that we're human. Why pay more attention to the things that make us different over the things that bring us together?

I've never seen a great actor do a major role that didn't cost a lot. They're sacrificial animals of a sort.