quotable Washington Irving (on his birthday)

In honor of Washington Irving's 230th birthday, a quote that I think will appeal to readers and writers alike -

If, however, I can by any lucky chance, in these days of evil, rub out one wrinkle from the brow of care, or beguile the heavy heart of one moment of sorrow; if I can now and then penetrate through the gathering film of misanthropy, prompt a benevolent view of human nature, and make my reader more in good humor with his fellow beings and himself, surely, surely, I shall not then have written entirely in vain.
                  - "Christmas Dinner," The Sketch Book of Geoffrey Crayon¹

Irving wrote prolifically and eccentrically², and though he was one of the most famous writers of his day, he has suffered the fate of many dead-white-male authors and is now relatively unknown.³ Personally, I'm hoping that Fox's Sleepy Hollow pilot (in production right now) results in a series and that the series results in a renewed interest in Irving and his work beyond "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow."

1. Affiliate link. Also, I didn't double-check the source and am relying exclusively on the editor of The Wit and Whimsy of Washington Irving (link devoid of commission-earning potential), page 51, for source information.
2. I bet you didn't know he wrote a biography of Mohammed.
3. Except in Spain.