“I remember writing an article for the North American Review many years ago in which the editor claimed his Editorial right to change things to suit himself, and altered just one word — for the worse.”

A humorous but serious defence of an author's control over his wording · Letter, August 19, 1882

• Editors
• Precision
• Writing

“I did, every one of them.”

A dryly humorous postscript revealing that despite his criticism he had actually read every poem · Letter concerning young poets, December 4, 1886

• Humour
• Poetry
• Reading

“At least you can look back and think of all you have done for others.”

Offering service to others as a source of consolation during suffering · Letter to Elizabeth Stuart Phelps Ward

• Compassion
• Consolation
• Service