I've never been lonely. I've been in a room... I've felt suicidal, I've been depressed. I've felt awful ... awful beyond all , but I never felt that one other person could enter that room and cure what was bothering me...or that any number of people could enter that room. In other words, loneliness is something I've never been bothered with because I've always had this terrible itch for solitude.

If there are junk yards in hell, love is the dog that guards the gates.

there is moss on the walls and the stain of thought and failure and waiting

When I begin to doubt my ability to work the word, I simply read another writer and know I have nothing to worry about. My contest is only with myself, to do it right, with power, and force, and delight, and gamble.

It was better for me when I could imagine greatness in others, even if it wasn't always there.

If it doesn't come bursting out of you in spite of everything, don’t do it.

sometimes there's nothing to say about death.