It is a terrible thing to learn as a child that one is a being separate from all the world, that no one and no thing hurts along with one's burned tongues and skinned knees, and that one's aches and pains are all one's own. Even more terrible, as we grow older, to learn that no person, no matter how beloved, can ever truly understand us.

"There is nothing wrong with the love of Beauty. But Beauty - unless she is wed to something more meaningful - is always superficial."

“I hate Gucci," said Francis.

"Do you?" said Henry, glancing up from his reverie. "Really? I think it's rather grand."

"Come on, Henry."

"Well, it's so expensive, but it's so ugly too, isn't it? I think they make it ugly on purpose. And yet people buy it out of sheer perversity."

"I don't see what you think is grand about that."

"Anything is grand if it's done on a large enough scale," said Henry.