But such occasions of excellence became less and less frequent. As her technique became sounder, [her] sincerity became less necessary.

[Dona Maria] saw that the people of this world moved about in an armor of egotism, drunk with self-gazing, athirst for compliments, hearing little of what was said to them, unmoved by the accidents that befell their closest friends, in dread of all appeals that might interrupt their long communion with their own desires.

I have inherited this burden of superstition and nonsense. I govern innumerable men but must acknowledge that I am governed by birds and thunderclaps

The planting of trees is the least self-centered of all that we can do. It is a purer act of faith than the procreation of children.

The more decisions that you are forced to make alone, the more you are aware of your freedom to choose.

The test of an adventure is that when you're in the middle of it, you say to yourself "Oh now I've got myself into an awful mess; I wish I were sitting quietly at home. And the sign that something's wrong with you is when you sit quietly at home wishing you were out having lots of adventure.

Pride, avarice, and envy are in every home.