"I never read the life of any important person without discovering that he knew more and could do mor..." — J. B. Priestley

A novelist who writes nothing for 10 years finds his reputation rising. Because I keep on producing books they say there must be something wrong with this fellow.

There was no respect for youth when I was young, and now that I am old, there is no respect for age, I missed it coming and going.

I know only two words of American slang, 'swell' and 'lousy'. I think 'swell' is lousy, but 'lousy' is swell.

The greatest writers of this age... are aware of the mystery of our existence.