Imagination, which is a quality writers must have, does not mean the ability to weave pretty stories out of nothing. In the right sense, imagination is a response to what is going on — a sensitiveness to which outside things appeal. It is a composition of sympathy and observation.

If you don't keep and guard and mature your force, and above all, have time and quiet to perfect your work, you will be writing things not much better than you did five years ago.

Loyal? As loyal as anyone who plays second fiddle ever is.

All Southern women wished of their menfolk was simply to be 'like Paris handsome and like Hector brave'.

When people ask me if it has been a hard or easy road, I always answer with the same quotation, the end is nothing, the road is all.Willa Cather

life hurrying past us and running away, too strong to stop, too sweet to lose.

Men travel faster now, but I do not know if they go to better things.