Things happen too quickly, crisis follows crisis, the soil of our minds is perpetually disturbed. Each of us, to relieve his feelings, broadcasts his own running commentary on the preposterous and bewildering events of the hour: and this, nowadays, is what passes for conversation.

Private opinion creates public opinion. Public opinion overflows eventually into national behavior as things are arranged at present, can make or mar the world. That is why private opinion, and private behavior, and private conversation are so terrifyingly important.

Constructive destruction is one of the most delightful employments in the world, and in civilized life the opportunities for it are only too rare.

librarianship is one of the few callings in the world for which is it still possible to feel unqualified admiration and respect.

The worst of gardening is that it's so full of metaphors one hardly knows where to begin.

When there is a world scarcity of any commodity, whether it's food or free speech, then the whole world must go on rations in order that eventually the whole world may have it again in plenty.

Words were the only net to catch a mood, the only sure weapon against oblivion.