“Thus, in a real sense, I am constantly writing autobiography,but I have to turn it into fiction in order to give it credibility.”

“I have been mocked by beauty, too. But it was the beauty which cost me nothing that in the end turned upon me.”

“I had no study in those days, not even a desk or file or bookcase to call mine alone....It might have happened sooner [the writing of work worthy of publication] had I had a room of my own and fewer children, but somehow I doubt it. For as I look back on what I have written, I can see that the very persons who took away my time and space are those who have given me something to say.”

“It is not enough to simply teach children to read;we have to give them something worth reading.Something that will stretch their imaginations-something that will help them make sense of their own livesand encourage them to reach out toward peoplewhose lives are quite different from their own.”

“I love revision. Where else can spilled milk be turned into ice cream?”

“Many people are angry when they make a mistake, but very few people have the sense to be sorry.”

“You have to believe it and you hate it. I don't have to and I think it's beautiful.”