Plato, on books:

A library of wisdom, is more precious than all wealth,

and all things that are desirable cannot be compared to it.

Whoever therefore claims to be zealous of truth, of happiness, of wisdom or knowledge,

must become a lover of books.

– Plato.

Jane Austen, on reading:

I declare after all there is no enjoyment like reading!

How much sooner one tires of any thing than of a book! --

When I have a house of my own, I shall be miserable if I have not an excellent library.

– Jane Austen.

William Wordsworth, on writing:

Fill your paper with the breathings of your heart.

- William Wordsworth.

Virginia Woolf, on writing:

The way to write well is to live intensely.

- Virginia Woolf.

R. A. Salvatore, on writing:

If you can quit, then quit.

If you can't quit, you're a writer.

- R. A. Salvatore.

Stella Adler, on art:

Life beats down and crushes the soul and art reminds you that you have one.

- Stella Adler.

Winston Graham, on writing:

All I knew was that I was writing something out of my very guts,

and that I was content.

- Winston Graham.

Introvert insight:

I hold this to be the highest task for a bond between two people: that each protects the solitude of the other.

- Rainer Maria Rilke.

Solitude is creativity's best friend, and solitude is refreshment for our souls.

- Naomi Judd.

The monotony and solitude of a quiet life stimulates the creative mind.

- Albert Einstein.

Without great solitude no serious work is possible.

- Pablo Picasso.

Barbara Kingsolver, on writing:

Close the door.

Write with no one looking over your shoulder.

Don't try to figure out what other people want to hear from you;

figure out what you have to say.

It's the one and only thing you have to offer.

- Barbara Kingsolver.

Albert Einstein, on imagination:

Logic will get you from A to B.

Imagination will take you everywhere.

- Albert Einstein.

Charlotte Bronte, on writing:

I'm just going to write because I cannot help it.

- Charlotte Bronte.

George V. Higgins, on writing:

You cannot write well without data.

- George V. Higgins.

Ann Patchett, on writing:

Writing is a job, a talent, but it's also the place to go in your head.

It is the imaginary friend you drink your tea with in the afternoon.

- Ann Patchett.

Stephen King, on writing:

If you want to be a writer, you must do two things above all others; read a lot and write a lot.

There's no way around these two things that I'm aware of, no shortcut.

- Stephen King.

Anne Tyler, on writing:

It's true that writing is a solitary occupation, but you would be surprised at how much companionship a group of imaginary characters can offer once you get to know them.

- Anne Tyler.

Carl Sagan, on imagination:

Imagination will often carry us to worlds that never were.

But without it, we go nowhere.

- Carl Sagan.

Bonnie Friedman, on writing:

Writing teaches writing.

Your writing will teach you how to write if you work hard enough and have enough faith.

- Bonnie Friedman.

John Steinbeck, on inspiration and writing:

Ideas are like rabbits.

You get a couple and learn how to handle them,

and pretty soon you have a dozen.

- John Steinbeck.

Jhumpa Lahiri, on books:

That's the thing about books.

They let you travel without moving your feet.

– Jhumpa Lahiri.

Charlotte Bronte, on writing:

You can write nothing of value unless you give yourself wholly to the theme -- and when you so give yourself -- you lose appetite and sleep -- it cannot be helped --

― Charlotte Brontë.