So, as one sees, I by no means deprive my world of stubborn reality, if I merely call it a world of ideas.

No baseness or cruelty of treason so deep or so tragic shall enter our human world, but that loyal love shall be able in due time to oppose to just that deed of treason its fitting deed of atonement.

For the Absolute, as we now know, all life is individual, but is individual as expressing a meaning.

Interfere with the reality of my world, and you therefore take the very life and heart out of my will.

You see, I am trying in all my stories to get the feeling of the actual life across - not to just depict life - or criticize it - but to actually make it alive. So that when you have read something by me, you actually experience the thing. You can't do this without putting in the bad and the ugly as well as what is beautiful.

Men and women of every faith and good people with none at all sincerely strive to do right and lead a purpose-driven life.

Sometimes you want to experience life, but ultimately, you've got to make sacrifices and choose the right road.

I survived because I never took on big responsibilities in my private life. In the early days, I lived on two or three pounds a week and learned to cook - and I'm a good cook - because I had to. Even when I went on holiday, I stayed in other people's houses.