"My feeling is that there is nothing in life but refraining from hurting others, and comforting those who are sad." Olive Schreiner, author (1855-1920)
"Of all the preposterous assumptions of humanity over humanity, nothing exceeds most of the criticisms made on the habits of the poor by the well-housed, well-warmed, and well-fed." Herman Melville, novelist and poet (1819-1891)
"To blame the poor for subsisting on welfare has no justice unless we are also willing to judge every rich member of society by how productive he or she is. Taken individual by individual, it is likely that there's more idleness and abuse of government favors among the economically privileged than among the ranks of the disadvantaged." Norman Mailer, novelist, journalist, essayist, playwright etc. (1923-2007)
"If, every day, I dare to remember that I am here on loan, that this house, this hillside, these minutes are all leased to me, not given, I will never despair. Despair is for those who expect to live forever. I no longer do." Erica Jong, writer, poet, teacher (b. 1942)