Matthew Pearl said this quote

Books do pretend ...but squeezed in between is even more that is true—without what you may call the lies, the pages would be too light for the truth, you see?

~ Matthew Pearl

'Pity without rigor would be cowardly egotism, mere sentimentality.'

~ Matthew Pearl

Longfellow smiled. A great part of the happiness of life consists not in fighting battles, my dear Lowell, but in avoiding them. A masterly retreat is in itself a victory.

~ Matthew Pearl

Believe that when I am at once a man's friend I am always so-nor is it so very hard to bring me to it. And though a man may enjoy himself in being my enemy, he cannot make me HIS for longer than I wish. Good afternoon. Lowell had a way of leaving a conversation with the other person needing more from him.

~ Matthew Pearl