What Douglas had once seen as the attractive over-confidence of youth, now looked more like unyielding selfishness.

Why do these people love you, Archer? Is it simply because you show little or no response to their affection?

It is a great mistake to suppose that a woman with no heart will be an easy creditor in the exchange of affection. There is not on earth a more merciless extractor of love from others than a thoroughly selfish woman; and the more unlovely she grows, the more jealously and scrupulously she extracts love, to the uttermost farthing.

Do you ever make silly mistakes? It is one of my very few creative activities.

Anyone can write one book: even politicians do it. Starting a second book reveals an intention to be a professional writer.

In Mexico an air conditioner is called a politician because it makes a lot of noise but doesn't work very well.