Once more September marveled that even the Dodo knew what she wanted to be when she was grown. She simply could not think what she herself might do. September expected that destinies, which is how she thought of professions, simply landed upon one like a crown, and ever after no one questioned or fretted over it, being sure of one’s own use in the world. It was only that somehow her crown had not yet appeared. She did hope it would hurry up.

But if you must be clever, then be clever. Be brave. Sleep with fists closed and shoot straight.

I have all the books I could need, and what more could I need than books?

If one did not have at least a little luck, one would never survive childhood. But luck can be spent, like money; and lost, like a memory; and wasted, like a life.

Love, I've never been anyone's mother; I don't know how to talk to young or old. But don't stop smiling just because I flap my mouth and say something that's not dressed around the edges like a lace tablecloth. Thicken up and we'll get along fine.

Readers will always insist on adventures, and though you can have grief without adventures, you cannot have adventures without grief.

In both marriage and war you must cut up the things people say like a cake and eat only what you can stomach.