In literature as in love, we are astonished at what is chosen by others.

Conversation would be vastly improved by the constant use of four simple words: I do not know.

—André Maurois

An artist must be a reactionary. He has to stand out against the tenor of the age and not go flopping along.

—André Maurois

Above all things, never be afraid. The enemy who forces you to retreat is himself afraid of you at that very moment.

—André Maurois

Growing old is no more than a bad habit which a busy man has no time to form.

—André Maurois

We owe to the Middle Ages the two worst inventions of humanity - romantic love and gunpowder.

—André Maurois

The covers of this book are too far apart.

—Ambrose Bierce

Reading, after a certain age, diverts the mind too much from its creative pursuits. Any man who reads too much and uses his own brain too little falls into lazy habits of thinking.

—Albert Einstein

I love everything that's old,—old friends, old times, old manners, old books, old wine.

—Oliver Goldsmith

I'm writing a book. I've got the page numbers done.

—Steven Wright

A morning-glory at my window satisfies me more than the metaphysics of books.

—Walt Whitman