We are always afraid to start something that we want to make very good, true, and serious.

No writing is a waste of time – no creative work where the feelings, the imagination, the intelligence must work. With every sentence you write, you have learned something. It has done you good.

the death of any loved parent is an incalculable lasting blow. Because no one ever loves you again like that.

There is that American pastime known as "kidding" - with the result that everyone is ashamed and hangdog about showing the slightest enthusiasm or passion or sincere feeling about anything.

Even if I knew for certain that I would never have anything published again, and would never make another cent from it, I would still keep on writing.

When we commit ourselves to writing for some part of each day, we are happier, more enlightened, alive, light-hearted and generous to everyone else. Even our health improves.

Families are great murderers of the creative impulsive, particularly husbands.