At a time when politics deals in distortions and half truths, truth is to be found in the liberal arts. There's something afoot in this country and you are very much a part of it.

I see the world in ways that might be considered somewhat harsh and Darwinistic. At the same time mediated, as in Darwin, by a real idealism and an excitement about the possibilities of the intellect and imagination to deal with this somewhat brutal world.

As a farm girl, even when I was quite young, I had my 'farm chores' - but I had time also to be alone, to explore the fields, woods and creek side. And to read.

When a marriage ends, who is left to understand it?

The mere passage of time makes us all exiles.

the music was always in the background, like music at a church service; it was something to depend upon.

[Emily] Dickinson, our supreme poet of inwardness.