"Damn you, spoilt creature; I shan’t make you love me any the more by giving myself away like this."

“Portrait photos at npg.org.uk”

“Women, like men, ought to have their years so glutted with freedom that they hate the very idea of freedom.”

“It is incredible how essential to me you have become. I suppose you are accustomed to people saying these things. Damn you, spoilt creature; I shan't make you love me any the more by giving myself away like this — But oh my dear, I can't be clever and stand-offish with you: I love you too much for that. Too truly. You have no idea how stand-offish I can be with people I don't love. I have brought it to a fine art. But you have broken down my defences. And I don't really resent it.”

“A man and his loves make a man and his life.”

“It is quite true that you have had infinitely more influence on me intellectually than anyone, and for this alone I love you.”

“Fuller list of Vita Sackville-West's publications”