Gail Godwin Quotes

Good teaching is l/4th preparation and 3/4ths theatre.

Squashed behind The Cloud of Unknowing we discovered a pocket-size spiral notebook with a day-by-day account of the time Justin had stayed with her and her husband after Tommy’s death. The writing was legible though it required effort (this was before she took her calligraphy course), but Justin was ecstatic and asked if he could have the little notebook. “This is my history,” he said. Later, after he had deciphered every last word: “Boy, was I loved.

One is taught by experience to put a premium on those few people who can appreciate you for what you are.

There are two kinds of people. One kind, you can just tell by looking at them at what point they congealed into their final selves. It might be a very nice self, but you know you can expect no more suprises from it. Whereas, the other kind keep moving, changing... They are fluid. They keep moving forward and making new trysts with life, and the motion of it keeps them young. In my opinion, they are the only people who are still alive. You must be constantly on your guard against congealing.

The best antidote I have found is to yearn for something. As long as you yearn you can't congeal: there is a forward motion to yearning.

I believe that dreams transport us through the underside of our days and that if we wish to become acquainted with the dark side of what we are the signposts are there waiting for us to translate them.