I will venture to say that I have written more letters, by a good many, than I have received, and this with India and the Edinburgh Review on my hands; the Life of Mirabeau to be criticised; the Rajah of Travancore to be kept in order; and the bad money, which the Emperor of the Burmese has had the impudence to send us byway of tribute, to be exchanged for better.

You have nothing to do but to be good, and write.
Make no excuses, for your excuses are contradictory.

If you see sights, describe them; for then you have subjects.

If you stay at home, write; for then you have time.

Remember that I never saw the cemetery or the railroad.