You never know what you will learn till you start writing. Then you discover truths you never knew existed.

I need noise and interruptions and irritation: irritation and discomfort are a great starter. The loneliness of doing it any other way would kill me.

Always let them think of you as singing and dancing.

Good women always think it is their fault when someone else is being offensive. Bad women never take the blame for anything.

Writing novels preserves you in a state of innocence - a lot passes you by - simply because your attention is otherwise diverted.

To remain pure, a novel has to cast a moral puzzle. Anything else is mere negotiation.

A man of such obvious and exemplary charm must be a liar.