If you're going to try, go all the way. Otherwise, don't even start.

there is enough treachery, hatred violence absurdity in the average human being to supply any given army on any given day and the best at murder are those who preach against it and the best at hate are those who preach love and the best at war finally are those who preach peace

And don't forget: time is meant to be wasted, love fails and death is useless.

The courage it took to get out of bed each morning to face the same things over and over was enormous.

there was something about that city, though it didn't let me feel guilty that I had no feeling for the things so many others needed. it let me alone. sitting up in my bed the lights out, hearing the outside sounds, lifting my cheap bottle of wine, letting the warmth of the grape enter me as I heard the rats moving about the room, I preferred them to humans. being lost, being crazy maybe is not so bad if you can be that way undisturbed. New Orleans gave me that. nobody ever called my name.

Don't ever write a novel unless it hurts like a hot turd coming out.

hate contains truth. beauty is a facade.