Gail Godwin

“One is taught by experience to put a premium on those few people who can appreciate you for what you are.”

“Good teaching is one-fourth preparation and three-fourths pure theatre.”

“Squashed behind The Cloud of Unknowing we discovered a pocket-size spiral notebook with a day-by-day account of the time Justin had stayed with her and her husband after Tommy’s death. The writing was legible though it required effort (this was before she took her calligraphy course), but Justin was ecstatic and asked if he could have the little notebook. “This is my history,” he said. Later, after he had deciphered every last word: “Boy, was I loved.”

“There are two kinds of people. One kind, you can just tell by looking at them at what point they congealed into their final selves. It might be a very nice self, but you know you can expect no more suprises from it. Whereas, the other kind keep moving, changing... They are fluid. They keep moving forward and making new trysts with life, and the motion of it keeps them young. In my opinion, they are the only people who are still alive. You must be constantly on your guard against congealing.”

“None of us suddenly becomes something overnight. The preparations have been in the making for lifetime.”

“Dreams say what they mean, but they don't say it in daytime language.”

“The race of children possesses magically sagacious powers.”

“The act of longing for something will always be more intense than the requiting of it.”