“Absence diminishes little passions and increases great ones just as the wind blows out a candle and fans a fire.”

“We promise according to our hopes and perform according to our fears.”

“We always love those who admire us and we do not always love those whom we admire.”

“Old men are fond of giving good advice to console themselves for being no longer in a position to give bad examples.”

“We give advice but we do not inspire conduct.”

“Few people know how to be old.”

“My mother used to tell me that when push comes to shove, you always know who to turn to. That being a family isn't a social construct but an instinct.”

“Listen, Harriet. I do unterstand. I know you don't want either to give or to take ... You don't want ever again to have to depend for happiness on another person.""That's true. That's the truest th...”

“In the human heart there is a built-in obsolescence factor. It does not matter how powerful and influential you are, how much education you have, how selfcontrolled or holy you consider yourselfyou...”