There seemed to be nothing to see; no fences, no creeks or trees, no hills or fields. If there was a road, I could not make it out in the faint starlight. There was nothing but land: not a country at all, but the material out of which countries are made.

Of course Nebraska is a storehouse of literary material. Everywhere is a storehouse of literary material. If a true artist were born in a pigpen and raised in a sty, he would still find plenty of inspiration for his work. The only need is the eye to see.

Where there is great love there are always miracles.

The world is little, people are little, human life is little. There is only one big thing — desire.

She had only to stand in the orchard, to put her hand on a little crab tree and look up at the apples, to make you feel the goodness of planting and tending and harvesting at last.

I don't want anyone reading my writing to think about style. I just want them to be in the story.

You must not begin to fret about the successes of cheap people. After all, what have they to do with you?