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

Being incomprehensible offers unparalleled protection against having nothing to say...but writing with simplicity requires courage, for there is a danger that one will be overlooked, dismissed as simpleminded by those with a tenacious belief that the impassable prose is a hallmark of intelligence.

Much of the really serious trouble in the world gets going with a sense of humiliation.

We fall in love because we long to escape from ourselves with someone as beautiful, intelligent, and witty as we are ugly, stupid, and dull. But what if such a perfect being should one day turn around and decide they will love us back? We can only be somewhat shocked-how can they be as wonderful as we had hoped when they have the bad taste to approve of someone like us?

Work is most fulfilling when you're at the comfortable, exciting edge of not quite knowing what you are doing.

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

We read the weird tales in newspapers to crowd out the even weirder stuff inside us.