The marsh, to him who enters it in a receptive mood, holds, besides mosquitoes and stagnation, melody, the mystery of unknown waters, and the sweetness of Nature undisturbed by man.

I can only think of one experience which might exceed in interest a few hours spent under water, and that would be a journey to Mars.

A first walk in any new country is one of the things which makes life on this planet worth being grateful for.

To be a Naturalist is better than to be a King.

The isness of things is well worth studying; but it is their whyness that makes life worth living.

Earth has few secrets from the birds.

Butterflies doing strange things in very beautiful ways were in my mind when I sat down, but by the time my pen was uncapped my thoughts had shifted to rocks.

……but work in the field has nothing to do with dignity or with anything except patience, concentration, and eternal vigilance

Although happiness is a stateof being, it usually still requiressome doing if it is to belasting in your life.

One, if you attack my integrity, I will defend myself. If you attack my patriotism, I will defend myself. If you come after my family, I will counter-attack viciously, I will destroy you.

I recently watched that Lucie Arnaz-produced documentary [Lucy and Desi: A Home Movie, 1992] about her parents [Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz], and I saw so much of my own childhood there.

You can't take back an act you were able to think.

To practice - write each and every day if possible - then try to attend professional writer's conferences where you can learn your craft, get to know fellow writers, and meet editors and agents.

It occurred to me that I had the duty to give society something in exchange for the free education I was getting.

I'm not over-reacting, but I do think people have to be a bit cautious when they say all kind of activities associated with witchcraft are harmless.

Even when there seems to be nothing else, there is hope.

Sometimes people call me a success for all the reasons that make me think I'm a failure