“...it is well known that to praise someone whose rivalry you do not dread is often a very good way of putting a spoke in the wheel of someone whose rivalry you do.”

“I have noticed that when someone asks for you on the telephone and, finding you out, leaves a message begging you to call him up the moment you come in, as it's important, the matter is often more important to him than to you.”

“Often the best way to overcome desire is to satisfy it.”

“Society tempts me to its service by honours and riches and the good opinion of my fellows; but I am indifferent to their good opinion, I despise honours and I can do very well without riches.”

“If you refuse to accept anything but the best, you very often get it.”

“Unfortunately sometimes one can't do what one thinks is right without making someone else unhappy.”

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