“All sides of life, not just the mysterious and scorned, but the simple redeeming sides as well, could be found in what had seemed to him to be the world’s darkest corners.”

“on which side is truth,—on the side of the thoughts which seem true and well-founded, or on the side of the lives of others and myself?”

“We wanted, it seemed, what we already had, a lover and a friend to create with, side by side. To be loyal, yet be free.”

“It is often said that there should be no death or grief in children's stories. It is not wise to dwell on the dark and sad side of these things; but they have also a bright and lovely side, and since even the youngest, dearest, and most guarded child cannot escape some knowledge of the great mystery, is it not well to teach them in simple, cheerful ways that affection sweetens sorrow, and a lovely life can make death beautiful?”

“What I saw was more than I could stand. The noise I heard had been made by Little Ann. All her life she had slept by Old Dan's side. And although he was dead, she had left the doghouse, had come back to the porch, and snuggled up by his side.”

“For him , life was a coin that had disaster on one side and waiting for disaster on the other”