Reading makes me want to write my own books, and just trying to understand what I see in the world around me… — Gretchen Rubin Copy Share Image
The thing that inspires me most is reading and just observing the people around me. I think those are the two things… — Gretchen Rubin Copy Share Image
My writing tends to become very dense, so I have to keep some cushion. Sometimes, words that seem superfluous are actually essential… — Gretchen Rubin Copy Share Image
Keeping a habit, in the smallest way, protects and strengthens it. I write every day, even if it's just a sentence, to… — Gretchen Rubin Copy Share Image
“The words of the writer Colette had haunted me for years: “What a wonderful life I’ve had! I only wish I’d realized… — Gretchen Rubin Copy Share Image
One thing that makes me very happy is to have a complicated idea and to feel that I've expressed myself clearly. I… — Gretchen Rubin Copy Share Image
Whenever I start a new book, I think, 'This is the most interesting subject of all time. It's sad, I'll never enjoy… — Gretchen Rubin Copy Share Image
“On Three Ways of Writing for Children”: When I was ten, I read fairy tales in secret and would have been ashamed… — Gretchen Rubin Copy Share Image
It's so easy to use tired, shopworn figures of speech. I love using long, fancy words but have learned - mostly from… — Gretchen Rubin Copy Share Image
For notes related to books I'm writing, I've wondered whether I should organize my notes better, but I do find that the… — Gretchen Rubin Copy Share Image
“The most important piece of writing advice: Have something to say. Whenever I have trouble writing, it’s because I’m trying to write… — GRETCHEN RUBIN Copy Share Image
We tend to overestimate what we can do in a short period, and underestimate what we can do over a long period,… — Gretchen Rubin Copy Share Image
Step by step, you make your way forward. That’s why practices such as daily writing exercises or keeping a daily blog can… — Gretchen Rubin Copy Share Image
“Second Splendid Truth One of the best ways to make yourself happy is to make other people happy. One of the best ways to… — Gretchen Rubin Copy Share
Knowing what you admire in others is a wonderful mirror into your deepest, as yet unborn, self. — Gretchen Rubin Copy Share
Being taken for granted is an unpleasant but sincere form of praise. Ironically, the more reliable you are and the less you complain, the… — Gretchen Rubin Copy Share
“one Secret of Adulthood is “Never start a sentence with the words ‘No offense’”? “And” — Gretchen Rubin Copy Share
One of the findings that really interests me is that, although we think we ACT because of the way we FEEL, we often FEEL… — Gretchen Rubin Copy Share
We all want to get along well with other people, and one way to do this is to help people feel good about themselves.… — Gretchen Rubin Copy Share
During my study of happiness, I noticed something that surprised me: I often learn more from one person's highly idiosyncratic experiences than I do… — Gretchen Rubin Copy Share
There is a preppy wabi-sabi to soft, faded khakis and cotton shirts, but it's not nice to be surrounded by things that are worn… — Gretchen Rubin Copy Share
“There are times in the lives of most of us,” observed William Edward Hartpole Lecky, “when we would have given all the world to… — Gretchen Rubin Copy Share
“I started thinking more about music. I thought I'd accepted the fact that, as part of "Being Gretchen," I didn't really like music, but… — Gretchen Rubin Copy Share
If you've had something for more than six months, and it's still not repaired, it's clutter. — Gretchen Rubin Copy Share
“The pleasure of doing the same thing, in the same way, every day, shouldn't be overlooked. The things I do every day take on… — Gretchen Rubin Copy Share
Although we often assume that feelings inspire actions, in fact, actions also inspire feelings. By pushing myself to act happier, I make myself feel… — Gretchen Rubin Copy Share
“After someone's death, how strange to see the value drain away from his or her possessions; useful objects such as clothes, or dish towels,… — Gretchen Rubin Copy Share
