I have owed you this letter for a very long time-but my fingers have avoided the pencil as though it were an old and poisoned tool.

Saints can spring from any soil.

And you know what it is? San Francisco a golden handcuff with the key thrown away.

A man who gets few letters does not open one lightly.

If a story is not about the hearer, he will not listen. And here I make a rule—a great and interesting story is about everyone or it will not last.

The power of an attitude is amazing

She seemed to know, to accept, to welcome her position, the citadel of the family, the strong place that could not be taken. And since old Tom and the children could not know hurt or fear unless she acknowledged hurt or fear, she had practiced denying them in herself. And since, when a joyful thing happened, they looked to see whether joy was on her, it was her habit to build laughter out of inadequate materials....She seemed to know that if she swayed the family shook, and if she ever deeply wavered or despaired the family would fall.