What happened instead was that the tree fell in love with him and began to murmur fondly of the joy to be found in the eternal embrace of a red oak. "Always, always," it sighed, "faithful beyond any man's deserving. I will keep the color of your eyes when no other in the world remembers your name. There is no immortality but a tree's love.

The magician was studying her face with his green eyes. "Your face is wet," he said worriedly. "I hope that's spray. If you've become human enough to cry, then no magic in the world — oh, it must be spray. Come with me. It had better be spray.

I always say perseverance is nine-tenths of any art — not that it's much help to be nine-tenths an artist, of course.

There are honest people in the world, but only because the devil considers their asking prices ridiculous.

What do men know? Because they have seen no unicorns for a while does not mean we have all vanished.

It’s a rare man who is taken for what he truly is.

The tune was wailing and mournful, almost flagrantly so, and the total effect was of a heartbroken piccolo being parted forever from its bagpipe lover.