On Being Prepared

Midway through Howard's End, which I found courtesy of Project Gutenberg. An early passage:

"It's as well to be prepared."
     "No -- it's as well not to be prepared."
"Why?"
     "Because --"

Her thought drew being from the obscure borderland. She could not explain in so many words, but she felt that those who prepare for all the emergencies of life beforehand may equip themselves at the expense of joy. It is necessary to prepare for an examination, or a dinner-party, or a possible fall in the price of stock; those who attempt human relations must adopt another method, or fail.

Insomnia

From The Blue Castle, one of my favorite childhood classics, when Valancy expresses doubt that her husband actually loves her:

"You've been lying awake at three o'clock too long," said Barney, shaking her. "That's all that's the matter with you.

They're definitely words of comfort, whenever I think about all the things that float through my brain during my (often) sleepless nights.