In civilized places idleness, once the prerequisite for abstract thought, poetry, religion, philosophy, and falling in love, has become a character flaw. In America we've managed to stamp it out almost completely, and few people under forty can remember a… — Barbara Holland Copy Share Image
Poets and songwriters speak highly of spring as one of the great joys of life in the temperate zone, but in the real world most of spring is disappointing. We looked forward to it too long, and the spring we… — Barbara Holland Copy Share Image
Success in war was the only success that counted; failure was a disgrace to be wiped out only by starting another war and winning… — Barbara Holland Copy Share Image
Almost any dog thinks almost any human is the Great Spirit, the Primal Creator, and the Universal Force Behind the Sun and Tides. What… — Barbara Holland Copy Share Image
In the taverns all was amiable and easy, but the coffeehouses were cauldrons of edgy malcontents. — Barbara Holland Copy Share Image
We're a shifty, sliding population. ... What we refer to as 'home' may be a place we haven't seen in years; a place where… — Barbara Holland Copy Share Image
Single life should be experimental in nature and open to accidents. Some accidents are happy ones. — Barbara Holland Copy Share Image
Subtly, in the little ways, joy has been leaking out of our lives. The small pleasures of the ordinary day seem almost contemptible, and… — Barbara Holland Copy Share Image
War was ... the chief or maybe the only source of patriotism, and many a politician, from prehistory up to this morning, unified a… — Barbara Holland Copy Share Image
Smiting enemies has always been so admired that, unlike medicine or archaeology, it entitled its successful practitioners to become kings, emperors, and presidents. — Barbara Holland Copy Share Image
The thing to remember is that children are temporary. As soon as they develop a sense of humor and get to be good company, maybe even remember to take the trash out and close the refrigerator door, they pack up their electronic equipment and their clothes, and some of your clothes, and leave in a U-Haul, to return only at… — Barbara Holland Copy Share
I was getting sick and tired of being lectured by dear friends with their little bottles of water and their regular visits to the… — Barbara Holland Copy Share Image
If we have a decent sort of cat to begin with, and have always treated it courteously, and aren't cursed with meddling, bullying natures, it's a pleasure to let it do as it pleases. With children, this would be wicked and irresponsible, so raising children involves a lot of effort and friction. They need to be taught how to tie… — Barbara Holland Copy Share
