Verily, men do foolish things thoughtlessly, knowing not why; but no woman doeth aught without a reason.

To appreciate nonsense requires a serious interest in life.

It is in the blood of genius to love play for its own sake, and whether one uses one's skill on thrones or women, swords or pens, gold or fame, the game's the thing.

The temptation to vivify the tale and make it walk abroad on its own legs is hard to deny.

Old friends, we say, are best, when some sudden disillusionment shakes our faith in a new comrade.

Imagination is like a lofty building reared to meet the sky-fancy is a balloon that soars at the wind's will.

Most women have all other women as adversaries; most men have all other men as their allies.

Count no matron happy until she hath passed thirty, and hath not waxed fat.

In the mind of a woman, to give birth to a child is the short cut to omniscience.

To make fun of a person to his face is a brutal way of amusing one's self; be delicate and cunning, and keep your laugh in your sleeve, lest you frighten away your game.