Art derives a considerable part of its beneficial exercise from flying in the face of presumptions.

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

It's time to start living the life you've imagined.

Three things in human life are important. The first is to be kind. The second is to be kind. And the third is to be kind.

We work in the dark - we do what we can - we give what we have. Our doubt is our passion, and our passion is our task. The rest is the madness of art.

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

Everything about Florence seems to be colored with a mild violet, like diluted wine.

Excellence does not require perfection.

The Roman jurisprudence has the longest known history of any set of human institutions.

I'm yours for ever--for ever and ever. Here I stand; I'm as firm as a rock. If you'll only trust me, how little you'll be disappointed. Be mine as I am yours.

It's a complex fate, being an American, and one of the responsibilities it entails is fighting against a superstitious valuation of Europe.

No, no! The adventures first, explanations take such a dreadful time.

Dead men always have the last laugh. They win. They're dead. You can't hurt their feelings anymore.

No, the thing that makes for greatness is determination, persisting in the right direction over the long haul, following your dream, staying at the task.

The apprehensive faculty must be scrutinised in action.

There's this idea that when you turn 40, you automatically go to adult contemporary heaven, but I want to try and challenge that.

I don't feel I'm a diva in any way, but, like, I just can't bring myself to reuse eyelashes. I think it's gross. And so I only use them one time. Is that bad? I feel like it's bad!

The forest is a quiet place if only the best birds sing.

I'd be the first one to tell you that I would like to think that I had called timeout before that. I can't imagine that I did not. I can't tell you that I did, and that's my issue.

Whether it's an orgy or a cocktail party, I know how to do it.

Starting a new novel is a little like starting a new relationship - you have to be prepared to commit for at least three years and put up with the domestic tedium as well as the emotional highs!