Sometimes I think of life as a process where everybody is discouraging and taking everybody else down a peg or two.

No writing is a waste of time – no creative work where the feelings, the imagination, the intelligence must work. With every sentence you write, you have learned something. It has done you good.

Orthodox criticism ... is a murderer of talent. And because the most modest and sensitive people are the most talented, having the most imagination and sympathy, these are the first ones to get killed off.

We are always afraid to start something that we want to make very good, true, and serious.

Inspiration does not come like a blot, nor is it kinetic energy striving, but it comes to us slowly and quietly all the time.

Duty should be a byproduct.

Know that it is good to work. Work with love and think of liking it when you do it.