Families are great murderers of the creative impulsive, particularly husbands.

We should all know this: that listening, not talking, is the gifted and great role, and the imaginative role.

Know that it is good to work. Work with love, and think of liking it when you do it. It is easy and interesting. It is a privilege. There is nothing hard about it but your anxious vanity and fear of failure.

Everybody is talented because everybody who is human has something to express.

When we are listened to, it creates us, makes us unfold and expand. Ideas actually begin to grow within us and come to life.

So remember these two things: you are talented and you are original. Be sure of that. I say this because self-trust is one of the very most important things in writing.

We have come to think that duty should come first. I disagree. Duty should be a by-product. Writing, the creative effort, the use of the imagination, should come first – at least, for some part of every day of your life. It is a wonderful blessing if you use it. You will become happier, more enlightened, alive, impassioned, light-hearted and generous to everybody else. Even your health will improve. Colds will disappear and all the other ailments of discouragement and boredom.