Old age is . . . a lot of crossed off names in an address book.

Old age is - a lot of crossed off names in an address book

He longed to be lost but he couldn't bear not to be found.

No, there's not a lot to envy about the old days. But something has been lost.

Death used to announce itself in the thick of life but now people drag on so long it sometimes seems that we are reaching the stage when we may have to announce ourselves to death. It is as though one needs a special strength to die, and not a final weakness.

That's a lovely idea, Diana,' said Anne enthusiastically. 'Living so that you beautify your name, even if it wasn't beautiful to begin with…making it stand in people's thoughts for something so lovely and pleasant that they never think of it by itself.