每年9月全世界的张爱玲迷都会像她小说《沉香屑第一炉香》写的那样，在心里“寻出霉绿斑斓的铜香炉，点上一炉沉香屑”，怀念着21年前9月8日离开尘世的张爱玲了，回味她冷眼看人间的经典字句。套《金锁记》开篇文字，“隔着（21年）的辛苦路往回看，再好的月色也不免带点凄凉”，张氏语录总让读者看到凡夫俗子的好死不如赖活，人生的苍凉与不完美。
爱
于千万人之中遇见你所要遇见的人，于千万年之中，时间的无涯的荒野里，没有早一步，也没有晚一步，刚巧赶上了，没有别的话可说，惟有轻轻地问一声噢，你也在这里？（《爱》）
To meet the one you are destined to meet, out of the millions of people, and the millions of years within the boundless wilderness of time, your paths cross just in time, not a step earlier nor a step later, and yet to have nothing to say to each other, but: "Oh, you are here too."（“Love”）
女人
电车上的女人使我悲怆。女人……女人一辈子谈的是男人，念的是男人，怨的是男人，永远永远。 (《有女同车》)
Women on the trolleys sadden me. Women...women, for all their lives, will be talking about men, thinking about men, griping about men, forever and ever.（“Riding the Trolley with Women”）
男人
也许每一个男子全都有过这样的两个女人，至少两个。娶了红玫瑰，久而久之，红的变了墙上的一抹蚊子血，白的还是窗前明月光；娶了白玫瑰，白的便是衣服上的一粒饭粘子，红的却是心口上的一颗朱砂痣。(《红玫瑰白玫瑰》)
Perhaps every man would have at the very least two such women in his life. Had he married Red Rose, she would have eventually become a smear of mosquito blood on the wall, while White Rose would have become the moon high above, outside the window. Had he married White Rose, she would have gradually become the lone grain of rice that had fallen from the bowl and clung onto his shirt, while Red Rose would have become a crimson mole that stays close to his heart.(“Red Rose White Rose”）
心
生于这世上，没有一样感情不是千疮百孔的。（《留情》）
There isn't one relationship in this world that isn't riddled with holes and scars.（"Love Lingers"）
爱
爱就是不问值得不值得。(《小团圆》)
Love is never having to ask if it were worthwhile.（"Little Reunion"）
慈悲
因为爱过，所以慈悲；因为懂得，所以宽容。（张爱玲书信）
One empathizes because one has loved; one forgives because one understands. （Excerpt from Chang's letter）
