What do we any of us have but our illusions? And what do we ask of others but that we be allowed to keep them?

Nothing in the world is permanent, and we’re foolish when we ask anything to last, but surely we’re still more foolish not to take delight in it while we have it.

We are not the same persons this year as last; nor are those we love. It is a happy chance if we, changing, continue to love a changed person.

To acquire the habit of reading is to construct for yourself a refuge from almost all the miseries of life.

It's a funny thing about life; if you refuse to accept anything but the best, you very often get it.

If a nation values anything more than freedom, it will lose its freedom; and the irony of it is that if it is comfort or money that it values more, it will lose that too.

The secret to life is meaningless unless you discover it yourself.

The only important thing in a book is the meaning that it has for you.

It is dangerous to let the public behind the scenes. They are easily disillusioned and then they are angry with you, for it was the illusion they loved.

The common idea that success spoils people by making them vain, egotistic and self-complacent is erroneous; on the contrary it makes them, for the most part, humble, tolerant and kind.

Imagination grows by exercise, and contrary to common belief, is more powerful in the mature than in the young.

Do what is right. Not what you like.

Do we exist because others perceive our existence, or is, indeed, our own affirmation enough?

Think for yourselves and let others enjoy the privilege to do so, too.

Music is there to enrich your life and make you aware of things in a slightly different way.

Lord Voldermort Has Risen Again.

Conventional wisdom can get us into so much trouble, especially as artists.

When you make a movie, you're spending a month of your life with someone and, down the line, you have to spend more months with them. It is this mini-marriage that you have.

During this earlier period of his activity Voltaire seems to have been trying - half unconsciously, perhaps - to discover and to express the fundamental quality of his genius.

What we know about the global financial crisis is that we don't know very much.

In our society, it's been the men who've handled most of the finances, and the women who've stood by and watched men botch things up.