More from Washington Irving
- Often credited to Victor Hugo
- The Sketch Book of Geoffrey Crayon (1819–1820)
- Tales of a Traveler (1824), Preface, p. 7
People/Washington Irving/Quote

Rip Van Winkle, however, was one of those happy mortals, of foolish, well-oiled dispositions, who take the world easy, eat white bread or brown, whichever can be got with least thought or trouble, and would rather starve on a penny than work for a pound.