“It is remarkable, the character of the pleasure we derive from the best books.”
“The pleasure we derive from journeys is perhaps dependent more on the mindset with which we travel than on the destination we travel to.”
“Pleasure is always derived from something outside you, whereas joy arises from within.”
“Women derive a pleasure, incomprehensible to the other sex, from the delicate toil of the needle.”
“People derived too much pleasure from seeing their fellow man morally humiliated to spoil that pleasure by hearing out an explanation.”
“Attacking bad books is not only a waste of time but also bad for the character. If I find a book really bad, the only interest I can derive from writing about it has to come from myself, from such display of intelligence, wit and malice as I can contrive. One cannot review a bad book without showing off.”