Courtesy of Gretchen Rubin Moment of Happiness
The sacrifice of pleasures is of course itself a pleasure.
MURIEL SPARK
Loitering with Intent
People who want to write either do it or they don’t.
OCTAVIA BUTLER
Bloodchild and Other Stories
The sense of unhappiness is so much easier to convey than that of happiness.
GRAHAM GREENE
The End of the Affair
I’ve got to accept limitations before I can discover my possibilities.
JAMES BALDWIN
Conversations with James Baldwin
There is no excellent beauty, that hath not some strangeness in the proportion.
FRANCIS BACON
“Of Beauty” in Essays
There is no comfort anywhere for anyone who dreads to go home.
LAURA INGALLS WILDER
Little Town on the Prairie
As you probably know for yourself, dear reader, it’s the stories of our childhood that make the deepest impressions and last the longest
STEPHEN KING
Fairy Tale
There are jobs, there are chores, and there is work.
Life Work
So plant your own garden and decorate your own soul, instead of waiting for someone to bring you flowers.
JORGE LUIS BORGES
“You Learn”
Every day is a journey, and the journey itself is home.
MATSUSO BASHO
The Narrow Road to the Deep North
One must never be either content with, or impatient with, oneself.
SAMUEL JOHNSON
“Pope” in Selected Writings
It is interesting how keen people are for you to do something they would never dream of doing themselves.
RACHEL CUSK
Outline
What’s fun for other people may not be fun for you—and vice versa.
Happiness comes not from having more, not from having less, but from wanting what we have.
The most important step is the first step.
GRETCHEN RUBIN
