When I look back, I am so impressed again with the life-giving power of literature.

Each one of us has lived through some devastation, some loneliness, some weather superstorm or spiritual superstorm, when we look at each other we must say, I understand. I understand how you feel because I have been there myself. We must support each other and empathize with each other because each of us is more alike than we are unalike.

You don't have to tell everything you know, but let what you do say be the truth as you understand it.

If I'm the people's poet, then I ought to be in people's hands - and, I hope, in their heart.

I've never had a dislike for men. I've been badly treated by some. But I've been loved greatly by some. I married a lot of them.

You dwell in whitened castles with deep and poisoned moats and cannot hear the curses which fill your children's throats.

When things were very bad his soul just crawled behind his heart and curled up and went to sleep