What is a neglected child? He is a child not planned for, not wanted. Neglect begins, therefore, before he is born. - Pearl S. Buck

These Chinese novels are not perfect according to Western standards. They are not always planned from beginning to end, nor are they compact, any more than life is planned or compact. They are often too long, too full of incident, too crowded with character, a medley of fact and fiction as to material, and a medley of romance and realism as to method, so that an impossible event of magic or dream may be described with such exact semblance of detail that one is compelled to belief against all reason

The days of my youth are past and to a woman full grown a kiss means everything — or nothing.

We can't stop time, but it will sometimes stand still for love.