It was not generally realized that what children mostly wanted was to be left alone.

I've never had a moment's doubt. I love you. I believe in you completely. You are my dearest one. My reason for life.

At that moment, the urge to be writing was stronger than any notion she had of what she might write.

For the professors in the academy, for the humanities generally, misery is more amenable to analysis: happiness is a harder nut to crack.

Let his name be cleared and everyone else adjust their thinking. He had put in time, now they must do the work. His business was simple. Find Cecilia and love her, marry her and live without shame.

It was not generally realized that what children mostly wanted was to be left alone.

Reading groups, readings, breakdowns of book sales all tell the same story: when women stop reading, the novel will be dead.