it is a principle of his that no man who was not a true gentleman at heart, ever was, since the world began, a true gentleman in manner. He says, no varnish can hide the grain of the wood; and that the more varnish you put on, the more the grain will express itself.

And what about the cash, my existence's jewel?

When we have done our very, very best, papa, and that is not enough, then I think the right time must have come for asking help of others.

There is something in sickness that breaks down the pride of manhood.

Prowling about the rooms, sitting down, getting up, stirring the fire, looking out the window, teasing my hair, sitting down to write, writing nothing, writing something and tearing it up...

There was a long hard time when I kept far from me the remembrance of what I had thrown away when I was quite ignorant of its worth.

My meaning is, that no man can expect his children to respect what he degrades.