“You may wonder why I work so hard at a thing thus far so unprofitable.” Self-aware admission about unrewarded labour · Letter concerning his play and consular duties Perseverance Work
“Three thousand dollars a year could not be gained by me by the extra time I could give to my literary work in losing my official position.” Weighing literary ambition against steady income · Letter concerning his consular post Money Work
“It's time, too, that you began to work with a long aim.” A call to sustained ambition in writing · Letter to Charles Warren Stoddard, April 24, 1870 Ambition Work
