A Literary Quote for the Day
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A Literary Quote for the Day
@enocktheyellow.bsky.social
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A Literary Quote for the Day @enocktheyellow.bsky.social · Nov 28


The quotes on this feed are generally the opening sentence of the book being cited.
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Is there anything pleasanter than going back to the time when your fathers and mothers were children, and hearing all about how they lived, and what they did, and what stories their fathers and mothers used to tell them?
November 25, 2025 at 12:00 PM
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Hawthorne, in his story of “The Great Stone Face,” gives us the picture of a boy growing up under the influence of a high ideal.

-- Walter Taylor Field, Fingerposts to Children’s Reading (1908) [Belle Waterbury Wood Collection #230]
Hawthorne, in his story of “The Great Stone Face,” gives us the picture of a boy growing up under the influence of a high ideal. -- Walter Taylor Field, Fingerposts to Children’s Reading (1908) [Belle Waterbury Wood Collection #230]
November 22, 2025 at 2:03 PM
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The Rock-a-By Lady from Hushaby street

Comes stealing; comes creeping;

The poppies they hang from her head to her feet,

And each hath a dream that is tiny and fleet—

She bringeth her poppies to you, my sweet

When she findeth you sleeping!
The Rock-a-By Lady from Hushaby street Comes stealing; comes creeping; The poppies they hang from her head to her feet, And each hath a dream that is tiny and fleet— She bringeth her poppies to you, my sweet When she findeth you sleeping! --Eugene Field, Lullaby Land (1910) [Belle Waterbury Wood Collection #224]
November 21, 2025 at 1:17 PM
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Eight hundred years ago, when the galleys of the bold Norsemen were scudding through storm and mist far into the unknown western seas, or, in the soft summer of the Mediterranean, riding at anchor in the ports of Italy and Northern Africa,
Eight hundred years ago, when the galleys of the bold Norsemen were scudding through storm and mist far into the unknown western seas, or, in the soft summer of the Mediterranean, riding at anchor in the ports of Italy and Northern Africa, the old stories of the battles of the gods and the giants that had been repeated for hundreds of years by Norse firesides in the long winter evening were brought together by some unknown man in Ireland, and were known henceforth at the Elder Edda; and a hundred years later Snorre Sturleson retold the same old stories, with others equally marvelous, in the Younger Edda. -- Hamilton Wright Mabie, Norse Stories (1902) [Belle Waterbury Wood Collection #215]
November 20, 2025 at 12:37 PM
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More than three centuries and a half ago, in the mid springtime of 1492, we are sure that the angel of the dawn, as he travelled with broad slow wing from the Levant to the Pillars of Hercules, and from the summits of the Caucasus across all the snowy Alpine ridges to the dark nakedness of
More than three centuries and a half ago, in the mid springtime of 1492, we are sure that the angel of the dawn, as he travelled with broad slow wing from the Levant to the Pillars of Hercules, and from the summits of the Caucasus across all the snowy Alpine ridges to the dark nakedness of the Western isles, saw nearly the same outline of firm land and unstable sea,--saw the same great mountain shadows on the same valleys as he has seen to-day,--saw olive mounts, and pine forests, and the broad plains green with young corn or rain-freshened grass,--saw the domes and spires of cities rising by the riversides or mingled with the sedge-like masts on the many-curved seacoast, in the same spots where they rise to-day. -- George Eliot, Romola An Historically Illustrated Edition (1906) [Belle Waterbury Wood Collection #212 & #213]
November 19, 2025 at 12:56 PM
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A rickety carriage was slowly ascending the hill, and from the place of honour on the back seat, the single passenger surveyed the country with interest and admiration.

-- Myrtle Reed, Lavender and Old Lace (1902) [Belle Waterbury Wood Collection #210]
A rickety carriage was slowly ascending the hill, and from the place of honour on the back seat, the single passenger surveyed the country with interest and admiration. -- Myrtle Reed, Lavender and Old Lace (1902) [Belle Waterbury Wood Collection #210]
November 18, 2025 at 1:12 PM
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Always in all human societies, at a certain period of their existence a time comes when their religion begins to diverge from its fundamental meaning, then diverges more and more, loses this fundamental meaning, and finally crystalizes into permanently established forms;--when its influence
Always in all human societies, at a certain period of their existence a time comes when their religion begins to diverge from its fundamental meaning, then diverges more and more, loses this fundamental meaning, and finally crystalizes into permanently established forms;--when its influence upon the life of men grows weaker and weaker!” -- Count Lyof N. Tolstoi, What is Religion? (1902) [Belle Waterbury Wood Collection #207]
November 17, 2025 at 5:11 PM
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The ark of the mining interests, which had drifted about unsteadily after the break in bonanza stocks in the summer of 1877, had rested, a year or two later, in a lofty valley of Colorado, not far from the summit of that great “divide” which parts the waters of the Continent.
The ark of the mining interests, which had drifted about unsteadily after the break in bonanza stocks in the summer of 1877, had rested, a year or two later, in a lofty valley of Colorado, not far from the summit of that great “divide” which parts the waters of the Continent. -- Mary Hallock Foote, The Led-horse Claim (1908) [Belle Waterbury Wood Collection #205]
November 16, 2025 at 1:59 PM
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The Anglo-Saxon author was in an epic stage.

-- Henry Seidel Canby, The Short Story in English (1909} [Belle Waterbury Wood Collection #199]
The Anglo-Saxon author was in an epic stage. -- Henry Seidel Canby, The Short Story in English (1909} [Belle Waterbury Wood Collection #199]
November 15, 2025 at 2:53 PM
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For some reason our generation has closed its text-books on ethics and morals, and opened the great poems, essays, and novels.

-- Newell Dwight Hillis, Great Books as Life Teachers (1899) [Belle Waterbury Wood Collection #307]
For some reason our generation has closed its text-books on ethics and morals, and opened the great poems, essays, and novels. -- Newell Dwight Hillis, Great Books as Life Teachers (1899) [Belle Waterbury Wood Collection #307]
November 14, 2025 at 12:48 PM
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"If anyone had told me what wonderful changes were to take place here in ten years, I wouldn’t have believed it,” said Mrs. Jo to Mrs. Meg, as they sat on the piazza at Plumfield one summer day, looking about them with faces full of pride and pleasure.
"If anyone had told me what wonderful changes were to take place here in ten years, I wouldn’t have believed it,” said Mrs. Jo to Mrs. Meg, as they sat on the piazza at Plumfield one summer day, looking about them with faces full of pride and pleasure. --Louisa May Alcott, Jo’s Boys (1886, 1915) [Belle Waterbury Wood Collection]
November 13, 2025 at 1:10 PM
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“It’s time to go to the station, Tom.”.

--Louisa May Alcott, An Old-Fashioned Girl (1870, 1914) [Belle Waterbury Wood Collection #301]
“It’s time to go to the station, Tom.”. --Louisa May Alcott, An Old-Fashioned Girl (1870, 1914) [Belle Waterbury Wood Collection #301]
November 12, 2025 at 6:27 PM
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Rose sat all alone in the big best parlor, with her little handkerchief laid ready to catch the first tear, for she was thinking of her troubles, and a shower was expected.

--Louisa May Alcott, Eight Cousins (1874, 1914) [Belle Waterbury Wood Collection #300]
Rose sat all alone in the big best parlor, with her little handkerchief laid ready to catch the first tear, for she was thinking of her troubles, and a shower was expected. --Louisa May Alcott, Eight Cousins (1874, 1914) [Belle Waterbury Wood Collection #300]
November 12, 2025 at 1:19 AM
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Rose sat all alone in the big best parlor, with her little handkerchief laid ready to catch the first tear, for she was thinking of her troubles, and a shower was expected.

--Louisa May Alcott, Eight Cousins (1874, 1914) [Belle Waterbury Wood Collection #300]
Rose sat all alone in the big best parlor, with her little handkerchief laid ready to catch the first tear, for she was thinking of her troubles, and a shower was expected. --Louisa May Alcott, Eight Cousins (1874, 1914) [Belle Waterbury Wood Collection #300]
November 10, 2025 at 12:03 PM
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The elm-tree avenue was all overgrown, the great gate was never unlocked, and the old house had been shut up for several years.

-- Louisa May Alcott, Under the Lilacs (1877, 1915) [Belle Waterbury Wood Collection #299]
The elm-tree avenue was all overgrown, the great gate was never unlocked, and the old house had been shut up for several years. -- Louisa May Alcott, Under the Lilacs (1877, 1915) [Belle Waterbury Wood Collection #299]
November 9, 2025 at 1:07 PM
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On the morning of November 18, 1863, a special train drew out from Washington, carrying
a distinguished company.

-- Mary Raymond Shipman Andrews, The Perfect Tribute (1912) [Belle
Waterbury Wood Collection #200]
November 8, 2025 at 2:11 PM
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Beyond the reign of Peter the Great nothing is definitely known of the origin of the Tolstoi family.

--Nathan Haskell Dole, The Life of Count Lyof N. Tolstoi (1911} [Belle Waterbury Wood Collection #198]
Beyond the reign of Peter the Great nothing is definitely known of the origin of the Tolstoi family. --Nathan Haskell Dole, The Life of Count Lyof N. Tolstoi (1911} [Belle Waterbury Wood Collection #198]
November 7, 2025 at 1:26 PM
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“Christmas won’t be Christmas without my presents,” grumbled Jo, lying on the rug.

--Louisa May Alcott, Little Women (1868) [Belle Waterbury Wood Collection #193]
“Christmas won’t be Christmas without my presents,” grumbled Jo, lying on the rug. --Louisa May Alcott, Little Women (1868) [Belle Waterbury Wood Collection #193]
November 6, 2025 at 2:03 PM
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With hale affection and abiding faith these rhymes and pictures are inscribed to the children everywhere.

-- James Whitcomb Riley, Child-Rhymes (1909) [Belle Waterbury Wood Collection #191]
With hale affection and abiding faith these rhymes and pictures are inscribed to the children everywhere. -- James Whitcomb Riley, Child-Rhymes (1909) [Belle Waterbury Wood Collection #191]
November 5, 2025 at 2:48 PM
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You are perhaps aware of the fact that there is a misunderstanding, it might almost be called a quarrel, existing between the painter and his public.

-- John C. Van Dyke, Art for Art’s Sake, (1907) [Belle Waterbury Wood Collection #189]
You are perhaps aware of the fact that there is a misunderstanding, it might almost be called a quarrel, existing between the painter and his public. -- John C. Van Dyke, Art for Art’s Sake, (1907) [Belle Waterbury Wood Collection #189]
November 4, 2025 at 4:51 PM
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What constitutes art in a book a picture, or a marble is a question that comes up with each new generation.

-- John C. Van Dyke, What is Art?, (1910) [Belle Waterbury Wood Collection #188]
What constitutes art in a book a picture, or a marble is a question that comes up with each new generation. -- John C. Van Dyke, What is Art?, (1910) [Belle Waterbury Wood Collection #188]
November 3, 2025 at 2:46 PM
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He entered the backwoods village of Bytown literally on the wings of the wind.

--Henry Van Dyke, The Ruling Passion (1912) [Belle Waterbury Wood Collection #187]
He entered the backwoods village of Bytown literally on the wings of the wind. --Henry Van Dyke, The Ruling Passion (1912) [Belle Waterbury Wood Collection #187]
November 2, 2025 at 2:05 PM
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Mercy and its blessed works always follow on the heels of cruelty, suffering, and war.

-- Edward S. Ellis, Library of American History, Vol VIII (1895, 1905) [Belle Waterbury Wood Collection #112]
Mercy and its blessed works always follow on the heels of cruelty, suffering, and war. -- Edward S. Ellis, Library of American History, Vol VIII (1895, 1905) [Belle Waterbury Wood Collection #112]
November 1, 2025 at 3:35 PM
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The bones of the leaders of the great Civil War are widely scattered.

-- Edward S. Ellis, Library of American History, Vol VII (1895, 1905) [Belle Waterbury Wood Collection #111]
The bones of the leaders of the great Civil War are widely scattered. -- Edward S. Ellis, Library of American History, Vol VII (1895, 1905) [Belle Waterbury Wood Collection #111]
October 31, 2025 at 12:08 PM
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James Abram Garfield was born at Orange, Cuyahoga County, Ohio, November 19, 1831.

-- Edward S. Ellis, Library of American History, Vol VI (1895, 1905) [Belle Waterbury Wood Collection #110]
James Abram Garfield was born at Orange, Cuyahoga County, Ohio, November 19, 1831. -- Edward S. Ellis, Library of American History, Vol VI (1895, 1905) [Belle Waterbury Wood Collection #110]
October 30, 2025 at 12:24 PM