If you haven't had your life what have you had?

We work in the dark - we do what we can - we give what we have. Our doubt is our passion, and our passion is our task. The rest is the madness of art.

What is character but the determination of incident? What is incident but the illustration of character?

It is art that makes life, makes interest, makes importance, for our consideration and application of these things, and I know of no substitute whatever for the force and beauty of its process.

...and the great advantage of being a literary woman, was that you could go everywhere and do everything.

Live all you can; it's a mistake not to.

Any point of view is interesting that is a direct impression of life. You each have an impression colored by your individual conditions; make that into a picture, a picture framed by your own personal wisdom, your glimpse of the American world.