Help is giving part of yourself to somebody who comes to accept it willingly and needs it badly.

At the time I did not know that stories of life are often more like rivers than books.

As I get considerably beyond the biblical allotment of three score years and ten, I feel with increasing intensity that I can express my gratitude for still being around on the oxygen-side of the earth's crust only by not standing pat on what I have hitherto known and loved. While oxygen lasts, there are still new things to love, especially if compassion is a form of love.

Many of us would probably be better fishermen if we did not spend so much time watching and waiting for the world to become perfect

My father was very sure about certain matters pertaining to the universe. To him all good things-trout as well as eternal salvation-come by grace and grace comes by art and art does not come easy.

In our family, there was no clear line between religion and fly fishing.

If our father had had his way, nobody who did not know how to fish would be allowed to disgrace a fish by catching him.