My own experience is that once a story has been written, one has to cross out the beginning and the end. It is there that we authors do most of our lying.

If an intelligent, educated, and healthy man begins to complain of his lot and go down-hill, there is nothing for him to do but to go on down until he reaches the bottom--there is no hope for him. Where could my salvation come from? How can I save myself? I cannot drink, because it makes my head ache. I never could write bad poetry. I cannot pray for strength and see anything lofty in the languor of my soul. Laziness is laziness and weakness weakness. I can find no other names for them. I am lost, I am lost; there is no doubt of that.

What must human beings be, to destroy what they can never create?

To judge between good or bad, between successful and unsuccessful would take the eye of a God.

It's immoral to steal, but you can take things.

People should be beautiful in every way - in their faces, in the way they dress, in their thoughts, and in their innermost selves.

The illusion which exalts us is dearer to us than ten thousand truths.