perhaps all this modern ferment of what's known as 'social conscience' or 'civic responsibility' isn't a result of the sense of duty, but of the old, old craving for beauty.

History is worth reading when it tells us truly what the attitude toward life was in the past.

Almost anything is enough to keep alive someone who wishes nothing for himself but time to write music.

Vermont is the only place in America where I ever hear thrift spoken of with respect.

What's the use of inventing a better system as long as there just aren't enough folks with sense to go around?

Never since the dawn of human history, as far as I can find out, did people long settled in any region give a friendly welcome to newcomers. One of the disagreeable traits of our human nature seems to be to dislike on sight people who come later than the first settlers.

You think religion is what's inside a little building filled with pretty lights from stained glass windows. But it's not. It's wings! Wings!