The first day of spring was once the time for taking the young virgins into the fields, there in dalliance to set an example in fertility for nature to follow. Now we just set the clocks an hour ahead and change the oil in the crankcase.

One of the most time-consuming things is to have an enemy.

Write about it by day and dream about it by night.

There is no trick to it. If you like to write and want to write, you write, no matter where you are or what else you are doing or whether anyone pays any heed.

A library is a good place to go when you feel bewildered or undecided, for there in a book, you may have your question answered

Reading is the work of the alert mind, is demanding, and under ideal conditions produces finally a sort of ecstasy.

The essayist . . . can pull on any sort of shirt, be any sort of person, according to his mood or his subject matter - philosopher, scold, jester, raconteur, confidant, pundit, devil's advocate, enthusiast.