[S]omething was being kept from him. But, short of scopolamine, hypnosis or wild horses, he knew he would… — Kingsley Amis

People who sound insincere all the time […] should not expect others to notice the difference when they try to sound insincere.

As far back as she could remember, she had gone in for day-dreams about what clothes, jewellery and the like she would wear if, like her admired and adored Marie Antoinette, she were somehow to find herself facing public execution.

Then, because it was every cinematic doctor's exit line, the doctor added, "I'll see myself out."