“In the symphony of love, the lost chord is a small organ lying somewhat north of the vagina.”

“You couldn’t love someone the way he had loved her and then be turned off them in five minutes by nothing more than lies and daydreams. Could you? Could you?”

“He hadn't lied. He honestly liked her house, for the same reasons he was drawn to the woman. There was no artifice about either one.”

“If I marry: He must be so tall that when he is on his knees, as one has said he reaches all the way to heaven. His shoulders must be broad enough to bear the burden of a family. His lips must be strong enough to smile, firm enough to say no, and tender enough to kiss. Love must be so deep that it takes its stand in Christ and so wide that it takes the whole lost world in. He must be active enough to save souls. He must be big enough to be gentle and great enough to be thoughtful. His arms must be strong enough to carry a little child.”

“He would sit singing, his cheeks turning red above his whiskers; but his voice always came out deep and steady, like the sound of long ago, if long ago could make a sound instead of being forever lost and silent.”

“It is better to love deeply and hurt deeply than to resist love and spare yourself pain.”

“Solitary is our place, the castle in the sea,And I muse on those I have loved, and on those who have loved me.”