The art of art, the glory of expression and the sunshine of the light of letters is simplicity: nothing is better than simplicity.
—Walt Whitman (1819–92) American Poet, Essayist, Journalist, American, Poet, Essayist, Journalist
Then there’s the joy of getting your desk clean, and knowing that all your letters are answered, and you can see the wood on it again.
—Lady Bird Johnson (1912–2007) First Lady of the United States, Conservationist
Mr Witwould: “Pray, madam, do you pin up your hair with all your letters? I find I must keep copies”.
Mrs Millamant: “Only with those in verse…. I never pin up my hair with prose”.
—William Congreve (1670–1729) English Playwright, Poet
In an age like ours, which is not given to letter-writing, we forget what an important part it used to play in people’s lives.
—Anatole Broyard (1920–90) American Literary Critic
If you must reread old love letters, better pick a room without mirrors.
—Mignon McLaughlin (1913–83) American Journalist, Author
There must be millions of people all over the world who never get any love letters… I could be their leader.
—Charles M. Schulz (1922–2000) American Cartoonist, Writer, Artist
I consider it a good rule for letter-writing to leave unmentioned what the recipient already knows, and instead tell him something new.
—Sigmund Freud (1856–1939) Austrian Psychiatrist, Psychoanalytic
It seems a long time since the morning mail could be called correspondence.
—Jacques Barzun (b.1907) French-born American Historian, Philosophers
Letter writing is the only device for combining solitude with good company.
—Lord Byron (George Gordon Byron) (1788–1824) English Romantic Poet
It is not enough to have a good mind. The main thing is to use it well.
—Rene Descartes (1596–1650) French Mathematician, Philosopher
To send a letter is a good way to go somewhere without moving anything but your heart.
—Phyllis Theroux (b.1939) American Journalist, Author
A strange volume of real life in the daily packet of the postman. Eternal love and instant payment.
—Douglas William Jerrold (1803–57) English Writer, Dramatist, Wit
O ay, letters – I had letters – I am persecuted with letters – I hate letters – nobody knows how to write letters; and yet one has ’em, one does not know why – they serve one to pin up one’s hair.
—William Congreve (1670–1729) English Playwright, Poet
A dream that is not interpreted is like a letter that has not been opened.
—The Talmud Sacred Text of the Jewish Faith
The one good thing about not seeing you is that I can write you letters.
—Svetlana Alliluyeva (1926–2011) Russian Defector, Memoirist
Go to the effort. Invest the time. Write the letter. Make the apology. Take the trip. Purchase the gift. Do it. The seized opportunity renders joy. The neglected brings regret.
—Max Lucado (b.1955) American Christian Author, Minister
When the spirits sink too low, the best cordial is to read over all the letters of one’s friends.
—William Shenstone (1714–63) British Poet, Landscape Gardener