No book that is written for an external purpose is going to be a passionately felt book for the writer or the reader. I don't see the point in doing that.

No happiness in the writer, no happiness in the reader.

I like a puzzle, as you know. So does every scholar worth his salt. It's the reward of the business, to look history in the eye and say, 'I know who you are. You can't fool me'.

You are a total stranger and you want to take my library book.

It was strange, I reflected.. that even in the weirdest circumstances, the most troubling episodes of one's life, the greatest divides from home and familiarity, there were these moments of undeniable joy.

There is nothing harder, at moments, than talking to someone who has all the power of silence.