A peasant can no more help believing in a traditional superstition than a horse can help trembling when be sees a camel.

I care only to know, if possible, the lasting meaning that lies in all religious doctrine from the beginning till now.

I shall be so glad if you will tell me what to read. I have been looking into all the books in the library at Offendene, but there is nothing readable. The leaves all stick together and smell musty. I wish I could write books to amuse myself, as you can! How delightful it must be to write books after one's own taste instead of reading other people's! Home-made books must be so nice.

Friendship is the inexpressible comfort of feeling safe with a person, having neither to weigh thoughts nor measure words.

College mostly makes people like bladders-just good for nothing but t'hold the stuff as is poured into 'em.

He had the superficial kindness of a good-humored, self-satisfied nature, that fears no rivalry, and has encountered no contrarieties.

No evil dooms us hopelessly except the evil we love, and desire to continue in, and make no effort to escape from.