Because the rhythm of conversation makes no allowance for dead periods, because the presence of others calls for continuous responses, we are left to regret the inanity of what we say, and the missed opportunity of what we do not.

A simple problem of arithmetic: there are far more ambitions than there are grand destinies available.

You normally have to be bashed about a bit by life to see the point of daffodils, sunsets and uneventful nice days.

I was uncomfortable writing fiction. My love was the personal essay rather than the novel.

Booksellers are the most valuable destination for the lonely, given the numbers of books that were written because authors couldn't find anyone to talk to.

We each appear to hold within ourselves a range of divergent views as to our native qualities.. And amid such uncertainty, we typically turn to the wider world to settle the question of our significance.. we seem beholden to affections of others to endure ourselves.

The only possible way to begin a book is to tell oneself that its eventual failure is guaranteed — but survivable.