Quotes about Introspection

Though Mrs. Fontaine smiled, I couldn't help but wonder if she'd sized me up and found me lacking.

If you watch what you think about, you won't have to watch what you talk about.

So we need to constantly scrutinize ourselves carefully, in order to make everlastingly certain that we shall always be strong enough and single-purposed enough from within, to relate ourselves rightly to the world without.

Avoid popularity if you would have peace.

I am in that temper that if I were under water I would scarcely kick to come to the top.

And finally I twist my heart round again, so that the bad is on the outside and the good is on the inside, and keep on trying to find a way of becoming what I would so like to be, and could be, if there weren't any other people living in the world.

If the grandfather of the grandfather of Jesus had known what was hidden within him, he would have stood humble and awe-struck before his soul.

I am not a self-help writer. I am a self-problem writer. When people read my books, I provoke some things. I cannot justify my work. I do my work; it is up to them to classify it, to judge.

I brought all the instincts of a writer with me into the monastery.

All good writing is swimming under water and holding your breath.

Art is a step from what is obvious and well-known toward what is arcane and concealed.

I can speak to my soul only when the two of us are off exploring deserts or cities or mountains or roads.