Writing is like getting married. One should never commit oneself until one is amazed at one's luck.

I am not a neurotic!""You're trembling with nerves and sensibility—""Of course I am, I'm an artist!

There's no point in talking it over. It would only make things worse. There's nothing to say. I just love you. That's all of it.""That's half of it," said Ducane. "Possibly over dinner I might tell you the other half.

I suspect the study of English literature is doing you no good, it's full of all sorts of romantic high-flown nonsense. You've been reading Shelley.""I plead guilty to that crime.

Christ, I loathe women. But I can't get going on the other tack either. And you needn't blush and look coy, I never fancied you. I know what you got up to with Fritzie Eitel! No—but I'd have had old Wilfred if he'd asked me. What did old Wilfred do for sex? No one ever knew. Perhaps he didn't have any, and if so good on him.

Actually," said Gildas, "every marriage is an irreversible mistake. That's the secret which they all keep.

I shall not attempt here to describe my marriage. Some impression of it will doubtless emerge. For the present story, its general nature rather than its detail is important. It was not a success. At first I saw her as a life-bringer. Then I saw her as a death-bringer. Some women are like that. There is a sort of energy which seems to reveal the world: then one day you find you are being devoured. Fellow victims will know what I mean. Possibly I am a natural bachelor.

In faith I know not why I am so sad."Ludens did not reply to this remark which Gildas often uttered.

Marriage is brainwashing. Not necessarily a bad thing. Your brain could do with a wash.