Well, my paper has asked me to do a series: Lives of the Great Musicians, reading time 2 minutes.

The family - that dear octopus from whose tentacles we never quite escape, nor, in our inmost hearts, ever quite wish to.

I have found that sitting in a place where you have never sat before can be inspiring.

Noble deeds and hot baths are the best cures for depression.

Time takes the ugliness and horror out of death and turns it into beauty.

What is it about the English countryside — why is the beauty so much more than visual? Why does it touch one so?

Contemplation seems to be about the only luxury that costs nothing.

It's a beautiful sight to see good dancers doing simple steps. It's a painful sight to see beginners doing complicated patterns.

Ham with mustard is a meal of glory

Like many other much-loved humans, they believed that they owned their dogs, instead of realizing that their dogs owned them.

I suppose the best kind of spring morning is the best weather God has to offer.

The most important thing about art is to work. Nothing else matters except sitting down every day and trying.

Come to the woods, for here is rest. There is no repose like that of the green deep woods. Sleep in forgetfulness of all ill.

My best friend is the one who brings out the best in me.

It took me ages to grow into being a woman, into being happy with it.

Some people run away to be alone, others to see who will follow

Lighthouses are more helpful than churches.

Writing about race and crime was not new territory for me. But it can be treacherous. So here are my rules: No stereotypes. No generalizations. No explanations. No apologies. Just the facts, ma'am.

Being more aware creates responsibility. What does responsibility mean? It means the ability to respond. The more conscious you are in your ability to respond, the more creative you'll be.

[T]hroughout the ages to be educated meant to be unproductive.... our word "school" - and its equivalent in all European languages - derives from a Greek word meaning "leisure.

I think writing is such a great talent, and if I was better I would love to be a writer.