There is no substitute for thoroughgoing, ardent, and sincere earnestness.

We spent as much money as we could and got as little for it as people could make up their minds to give us. We were always more or less miserable, and most of our acquaintance were in the same condition. There was a gay fiction among us that we were constantly enjoying ourselves, and a skeleton truth that we never did. To the best of my belief, our case was in the last aspect a rather common one.

Little Red Riding Hood was my first love. I felt that if I could have married Little Red Riding Hood, I should have known perfect bliss.

Every traveler has a home of his own, and he learns to appreciate it the more from his wandering.

Marley was dead, to begin with ... This must be distintly understood, or nothing wonderful can come of the story I am going to relate.

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.

He did each single thing as if he did nothing else.