A book is sent out into the world, and there is no way of fully anticipating the responses it will elicit. Consider the responses called forth by the Bible, Homer, Shakespeare - let alone contemporary poetry or a modern novel.

In Russia I went to a great yeshiva, and in America I work in a carnival.

Every man who has shown the world the way to beauty, to true culture, has been a rebel, a 'universal' without patriotism, without home, who has found his people everywhere.

No one knows he is fortunate until he becomes unfortunate, that's the way the world is.

I think the hardest part of writing is revising. And by that I mean the following: A novelist has to create the piece of marble and then chip away to find the figure in it.

If a person has a contribution to make, he must make it in public. If learning is not made public, it is a waste.

Honest differences of opinion should never be permitted to destroy a friendship.