You know, the Philistines have long since discarded the rack and stake as a means of suppressing the opinions they feared: they've discovered a much … - William Somerset Maugham

They don't want clever men; clever men have ideas, and ideas cause trouble; they want men who have charm and tact and who can be counted on never to make a blunder.

Are you sure you can prevent yourself from falling in love one of these days? Such things do happen, you know, even to the most prudent men.'

Simon gave him a strange, one might even have thought a hostile, look.

I should tear it out of my heart as I'd wrench out of my mouth a rotten tooth.

It was strange that Walter with all his cleverness should have so little sense of proportion. Because he had dressed a doll in gorgeous robes and set her in a sanctuary to worship her, and then discovered that the doll was filled with sawdust he could neither forgive himself nor her. His soul was lacerated. It was all make-believe that he had lived on, and when the truth shattered it he thought reality itself was shattered. It was true enough, he would not forgive her because he could not forgive himself.