To my way of thinking and working, the greatest service a piece of fiction can do any reader is to leave him with a higher ideal of life than he had when he began. If in one small degree it shows him where he can be...gentler, saner, cleaner, kindlier...it is a wonder-working book. If it opens his eyes to one beauty in nature he never saw for himself and leads him one step toward the God of the Universe, it is a beneficial book.

Tears were a blessing; they were a relief; they did wash the ache from the heart, ease brain strain, and encourage the soul.

there was nothing in the whole world so dreadful as the power of riches wrongly used.

I write as the birds sing, because I must, and usually from the same source of inspiration.

I don't so much mind the falling, but I do seem to select the hardest spots to light on.

Sometimes it seems to me that the more we get hurt in this world the decenter it makes us.

We never know the timber of a man's soul until something cuts into him deeply and brings the grain out strong. You've the making of a mighty fine piece of furniture.