When you break the heart of the philosopher, you must apply great force and cunning strategy, but when the deed is completed, the heart lies in great stony ruin at your feet. If you succeed in breaking it, the job is done once and for all. It will not be repaired.

When readers don't like the book, it's usually because they feel that romantic love is pass or somehow needs more irony.

You think that what I've told you is an anecdote. But really it isn't. It's my whole life. It's the only story I have.

What's agitating about solitude is the inner voice telling you that you should be mated to somebody, that solitude is a mistake. The inner voice doesn't care about who you find. It just keeps pestering you, tormenting you--if you happen to be me--with homecoming queens first, then girls next door, and finally anybody who might be pleased to see you now and then at the dinner table and in bed on occasion. You look up from reading the newspaper and realize that no one loves you, and no one burns for you.

Try to get your characters into interesting trouble. Allow your characters to misbehave. Let them stay out after 11.

The worst mistakes I've made have been the ones directed by sweet-natured hopefulness.

When you’re in love you don’t have to do a damn thing. You can just be. You can just stay quiet in the world. You don’t have to move an inch.