She plunged into a sea of platitudes, and with the powerful breast stroke of a channel swimmer made her… — William Somerset Maugham

There is no object to life. To nature nothing matters but the continuation of the species.

In the country the darkness of night is friendly and familiar, but in a city, with its blaze of lights, it is unnatural, hostile and menacing. It is like a monstrous vulture that hovers, biding its time.

It was not till quite late in life that I discovered how easy it is to say: "I don't know."