pˈɔːl ɹˈɑːbɪnsən ˈɛmfɐsˌaɪzᵻz ðə tʃˈɪɹfəl tˈoʊn ʌvðə dˈaɪɚɹi ɪn hɪz ɡˈeɪ lˈaɪvz: "ɐɡˈɛn ænd ɐɡˈɛn ɪt tˈɛlz ɐ stˈoːɹi ʌv pˌɜːsɪvˈɪɹəns, ʌv tɹˈaɪʌmf ˌoʊvɚɹ ædvˈɚsᵻɾi, ʌv mˌeɪkɪŋ ðə mˈoʊst əv ðə hˈænd wˈʌn ɪz dˈɛlt ɪn lˈaɪf"
Paul Robinson emphasizes the cheerful tone of the diary in his Gay Lives: "Again and again it tells a story of perseverance, of triumph over adversity, of making the most of the hand one is dealt in life"