"[T]he House of Maidens was for little girls whose whole duty in life was to spill things, break things, and forget things . . . until they had spilled, broken, and forgotten everything they could, and thus made room in their lives for a little wisdom."

Some knowledge and some song and some beauty must be kept for those days before the world again plunges into darkness.

The truth is not so good a story.

"It has never been, and never will be easy work! But the road that is built in hope is more pleasant to the traveler than the road built in despair, even though they both lead to the same destination."

Speak not against anyone whose burden you have not weighed yourself.