J. M. Barrie

"All the world is made of faith, and trust, and pixie dust." (Peter Pan)

Terry Pratchett

"If you have enough book space, I don't want to talk to you."

M. T. Anderson

On morality in writing:

I would argue, first of all, that our world-view is already wound into our narratives, whether we're aware of it or not, and that we can't help broadcasting it to our readers. Our idea of what a "happy ending" is, of who is evil and who is good, of who should triumph and who should fail (or whether anyone should do either) - all of that is played out in our writing. Just because we don't overtly talk about it doesn't mean it doesn't structure our stories, without us even thinking about it.

Source

From Chapter Two of The President's Daughter

     Meg tilted her head to look at her [mother], noticing the laugh lines around her mouth and eyes. Unexpected lines. Lines no one would ever see from a distance. "Are you going to win?"
     Her mother shook her head. "I very much doubt it."
     Well, maybe, but her mother had never exactly been the type to embrace futility - or lost causes. "Then, how come you're running?" Meg asked.
     "I don't know." Her mother's laugh lines deepened suddenly. "I guess I think I can win."

Page 20 of my copy

J. R. R. Tolkien

All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us. (The Fellowship of the Ring)