What a blessing it is to love books. Everybody must love something, and I know of no objects of love that give such substantial and unfailing returns as books and a garden.

When I got to the library I came to a standstill, - ah, the dear room, what happy times I have spent in it rummaging amongst the books, making plans for my garden, building castles in the air, writing, dreaming, doing nothing.

Beauty made you love, and love made you beautiful.

Guests can be, and often are, delightful, but they should never be allowed to get the upper hand.

I want to be as idle as I can, so that my soul may have time to grow.

Impossible for anyone to conceive the torments of his nights in bed with his beloved one and estranged from her. That turning of backs, that cold space between their two unhappy bodies.

Reading was very important; the proper exercise and development of one's mind was a paramount duty.