I think the effective use of quotation is an important point in the art of writing. Given sparingly, quotations serve admirably as a climax or as a corroboration, but when they are long and frequent, they seriously weaken the effect of a book. We lose sight of the writer - he scatters our sympathy among others than himself - and the ideas which he himself advances are not knit together with our impression of his personality.

I know forgiveness is a man's duty, but, to my thinking, that can only mean as you're to give up all thoughts o' taking revenge: it can never mean as you're t' have your old feelings back again, for that's not possible.

It is easy to say how we love new friends, and what we think of them, but words can never trace out all the fibers that knit us to the old.

Fear was stronger than the calculation of probabilities.

I have a knack of hoping, which is as good as an estate.

Education was almost entirely a matter of luck — usually of ill-luck — in those distant days.

It is difficult for woman to try to be anything good when she is not believed in.