I lay there knowing something eerie ties us to the world of animals. Sometimes the animals pull you backward into it. You share hunger and fear with them like salt in blood.

It does not demean men to want to be what they imagine the wolf to be, but it does demean them to kill the animal for it.

My function as a writer is to provide an atmosphere in which people can think wisely about what we're doing on this planet.

The land gets inside of us; and we must decide one way or another what this means, what we will do about it.

The attempt to close the gap between what is known and what IS, is the temptation behind the apple in Genesis.

Remember on this one thing, said Badger. The stories people tell have a way of taking care of them. If stories come to you, care for them. And learn to give them away where they are needed. Sometimes a person needs a story more than food to stay alive. That is why we put these stories in each other's memories. This is how people care for themselves.

People think that if you've written a book and somebody's given you a pat on the back then, you know, it's all - you're all settled, you know? You're going to be fine. I know that if I'm not confused, and really afraid, my work isn't going to be any good.