Kester wrote about people and since human nature doesn't change his observations hadn't dated. - Susan Howatch

Acquiring carnal knowledge is like swimming in the sea ... The sea's so beautiful to look at, so wonderful to swim in, but you must never bathe unless it's safe. People so often drown in the sea and some coasts are so very dangerous, ... like the Coast of Gower.

To be distracted is pardonable. To be incoherent is simply unobliging.

Man cannot live on charm alone, and an ambitious man cannot live on anything less than wealth, good social connections and substantial political influence.