There is a humility about genuine love that is rather horrible in some ways.

The essence of being human is that one does not seek perfection, that one is sometimes willing to commit sins for the sake of loyalty, that one does not push asceticism to the point where it makes friendly intercourse impossible, and that one is prepared in the end to be defeated and broken up by life, which is the inevitable price of fastening one's love upon other human individuals.

I'm not interested in the next generation, dear. I'm interested in us.' - Julia

To turn his head and look at her would have been inconceivable folly. With hands locked together, invisible among the press of bodies, they stared steadily in front of them, and instead of the eyes of the girl, the eyes of the aged prisoner gazed mournfully at Winston out of nests of hair.

At night all cats are grey.

After 40, a man is responsible for his face.

For a creative writer possession of the 'truth' is less important than emotional sincerity.