E B White Quotes

The critic leaves at curtain fall To find, in starting to review it, He scarcely saw the play at all For starting to review it.

Advice to young writers who want to get ahead without any annoying delays: don't write about Man write about a man.

There is nothing more likely to start disagreement among people or countries than an agreement.

The first day of spring was once the time for taking the young virgins into the fields there in dalliance to set an example in fertility for Nature to follow. Now we just set the clock an hour ahead and change the oil in the crankcase.

I liked to sail alone. The sea was the same as a girl to me - I did not want anyone else along.

Summertime oh summertime pattern of life indelible the fade-proof lake the woods unshatterable the pasture with the sweetfern and the juniper forever and ever . . . the cottages with their innocent and tranquil design their tiny docks with the flagpole and the American flag floating against the white clouds in the blue sky the little paths over the roots of the trees leading from camp to camp. This was the American family at play escaping the city heat.

Commuters give the city its tidal restlessness natives give it solidity and continuity but the settlers give it passion.

If the world were merely seductive that would be easy. If it were merely challenging that would be no problem. But I rise in the morning torn between a desire to improve (or save) the world and a desire to enjoy (or savour) the world. This makes it hard to plan the day.