We all appear as dunces when feigning an interest in things we care nothing about.

To live his life in his own way, to call his house his castle, to enjoy the fruits of his own labour, to educate his children as his conscience directs, to save for their prosperity after his death -- these are wishes deeply ingrained in civilised man. Their realization is almost as necessary to our virtues as to our happiness. From their total frustration disastrous results both moral and psychological might follow.

A children's story that can only be enjoyed by children is not a good children's story in the slightest.

Every good book should be entertaining. A good book will be more; it must not be less. Entertainment…is like a qualifying examination. If a fiction can’t provide that, we may be excused from inquiring into its higher qualities.

Sleeping on a dragon's hoard with greedy, dragonish thoughts in his heart, he had become a dragon himself.

The process of living seems to consist in coming to realize truths so ancient and simple that, if stated, they sound like barren platitudes.

Only a real risk tests the reality of a belief.