“The American landscape has no foreground and the American mind no background.” — Edith Wharton

I had the story, bit by bit, from various people, and, as generally happens in such cases, each time it was a different story.

I don't know if I should care for a man who made life easy; I should want someone who made it interesting.

The worst of doing one's duty was that it apparently unfitted one for doing anything else.

To be able to look life in the face: that's worth living in a garret for, isn't it?