“Children delight in poetry if they are not frightened away by adults' fear of poetry.”

“The best words in the best order...one always go the same shock of recognition and delight when someone's words swam up to meet a thought or name a picture. Poetry was awful good material to think with.”

“Moral power is always more dangerous to an oppressor than political force.”

“The thing to keep in mind is that laws are framed by those who happen to be in power and for the purpose of keeping them in power.”

“Poetry is a life-cherishing force.”

“Ah, Sofia, darlin'! On my best days, I believe in Him with all my heart." "And on your worst days?" she had asked that night."Even if it's only poetry, it's poetry to live by, Sofia--poetry to die for. . .”

“At breakfast!' said Louise in an awed voice. 'A man who can read poetry at breakfast would be capable of anything.”