There is something delicious about writing the first words of a story. You never quite know where they’ll take you.

Thank goodness I was never sent to school; it would have rubbed off some of the originality.

Thank goodness my education was neglected.

With opportunity the world is very interesting.

I cannot rest, I must draw, however poor the result, and when I have a bad time come over me it is a stronger desire than ever.

Thank God I have the seeing eye, that is to say, as I lie in bed I can walk step by step on the fells and rough land seeing every stone and flower and patch...

Sunday, January 27, 1884. — There was another story in the paper a week or so since. A gentleman had a favourite cat whom he taught to sit at the dinner table where it behaved...

The place is changed now, and many familiar faces are gone, but the greatest change is myself. I was a child then, I had no idea what the world would be like. I wished to...

Peter was not very well during the evening. His mother put him to bed, and made some chamomile tea: “One table-spoonful to be taken at bedtime.

I hold that a strongly marked personality can influence descendants for generations.

Believe there is a great power silently working all things for good, behave yourself and never mind the rest.