Quotes from E. B. White

Always be on the lookout for the presence of wonder.

Creation is in part merely the business of forgoing the great and small distractions.

The circus comes as close to being the world in microcosm as anything I know; in a way, it puts all the rest of show business in the shade.

All writing is communication; creative writing is communication through revelation-it is the Self-escaping into the open.

An editor is a person who knows more about writing than writers do but who has escaped the terrible desire to write.

All poets who, when reading from their own works,m experience a choked feeling, are major. For that matter, all poets who read from their own works are major, whether they choke or not.

I believe in dreams. People should have faith in the songs poets sing.

New York is to the nation what the white church spire is to the village - the visible symbol of aspiration and faith, the white plume saying the way is up!

A despot doesn't fear eloquent writers preaching freedom- he fears a drunken poet who may crack a joke that will take hold.

Why did you do all this for me?' he asked. 'I don't deserve it. I've never done anything for you.' 'You have been my friend,' replied Charlotte. 'That in itself is a tremendous thing.

Geese are friends to no one, they bad mouth everybody and everything. But they are companionable once you get used to their ingratitude and false accusations.

I can still see my first dog. For six years he met me at the same place after school and convoyed me home - a service he thought up himself. A boy doesn't forget that sort of association.

I have a spaniel that defrocked a nun last week. He took hold of the cord. I had hold of the leash. It was like elephants holding tails. Imagine me undressing a nun, even second hand.