Within the extent of your knowledge, you are right.

Never ask people. Not about your work. Don't you know what you want? How can you stand it, not to know?

I write - and read - for the sake of the story... My basic test for any story is: 'Would I want to meet these characters and observe these events in real life? Is this story an experience worth living through for its own sake? Is the pleasure of contemplating these characters an end itself?

Their eyes were dark and hard and glowing, with no fear in them, no kindness and no guilt.

Your eyes are as a flame, but our brothers have neither hope nor fire. Your mouth is cut of granite, but our brothers are soft and humble. Your head is high, but our brothers cringe. You walk, but our brothers crawl. We wish to be damned with you, rather than blessed with all our brothers. Do as you please with us, but do not send us away from you.

Do not let the hero in your soul perish.

When men abandon reason, physical force becomes their only means of dealing with one another and of settling disagreements.