Earthly greatness is a nice thing, and requires so much chariness in the managing, as the contentment of it cannot requite.

Good prayers never come creeping home. I am sure I shall receive either what I ask, or what I should ask.

Moderation is the silken string running through the pearl chain of all virtues.

Let others either envy or pity me; I care not, so long as I enjoy myself.

If the sun of God's countenance shine upon me, I may well be content to be wet with the rain of affliction.

Seldom was any knowledge given to keep, but to impart; the grace of this rich jewel is lost in concealment.

Try to be of some use to others.

Death borders upon our birth, and our cradle stands in the grave.

Words are as they are taken, and things are as they are used. There are even cursed blessings.

A reputation once broken may possibly be repaired, but the world will always keep their eyes on the spot where the crack was.

It is not the bee's touching on the flowers that gathers the honey, but her abiding for a time upon them, and drawing out the sweet.

Henry was thinking of the younger Holland sister of the way she could go from being an impetuous girl to a knowing woman in a few seconds and never lose the stars in her eyes.

If I take death into my life, acknowledge it, and face it squarely, I will free myself from the anxiety of death and the pettiness of life - and only then will I be free to become myself.

Anyone can cook but only the fearless can be great.

Affirmation plus action equals miracles.

I like to feel that all my best photographs had strong personal visions and that a photograph that doesn't have a personal vision or doesn't communicate emotion fails.

Jon shrugged. 'Girls get the arms but not the swords. Bastards get the swords but not the arms. I did not make the rules, little sister.

The time of illusion, then, is the beautiful moment of passion; it represents the artistic zone in which the poet or romance writer ought to be free to do the very best that he can.

The class of those who have the ability to think their own thoughts is separated by an unbridgeable gulf from the class of those who cannot.

What has sustained me even in the most grim moments is the knowledge that I am a member of a tried and tested family which has triumphed over many difficulties.

I come from a family of lawyers. I was expected to be a professional of some sort, not an artist. I was never uplifted for my art.