Honore de Balzac

Bureaucracy is a giant mechanism operated by pygmies.

The motto of chivalry is also the motto of wisdom; to serve all, but love only one.

Manners are the hypocrisy of a nation.

You have to have really wide reading habits and pay attention to the news and just everything that's going on in the world: you need to. If you get this right, then the writing is a piece of cake.

For many young women, the dream of independence and a home of their own is a tantalising goal, while a lifetime devoted solely to catering for another person's needs would be hard to countenance.

Acting is a masochistic form of exhibitionism. It is not quite the occupation of an adult.