Do not desire to fit in. Desire to oblige yourselves to lead.

When you love a man, he becomes more than a body. His physical limbs expand, and his outline recedes, vanishes. He is rich and sweet and right. He is part of the world, the atmosphere, the blue sky and the blue water.

I felt that I had to write. Even if I had never been published, I knew that I would go on writing, enjoying it and experiencing the challenge.

at a certain moment in social proceedings, I am on FIRE to leave: I have a leaving-FIT.

I've always thought of myself as a reporter.

I don't want people running around saying Gwen Brooks's work is intellectual. That makes people think instantly about obscurity. It shouldn't have to mean that, but it often seems to.

The music is in minors.