Early evening traffic was beginning to clog the avenue with cars. The sun slanted down behind him. Harry glanced at the drivers of the cars. They seemed unhappy. The world was unhappy. People were in the dark. People were terrified and disappointed. People were caught in traps. People were defensive and frantic. They felt as if their lives were being wasted. And they were right.

The worst thing for a writer is to know another writer, and worse than that, to know a number of other writers. Like flies on the same turd.

Disneyland remains the central attraction of Southern California, but the graveyard remains our reality.

I could read the great books but the great books don't interest me.

The Difference Between Art and Life is that Art is More Bearable

I was beaten down long ago in some alley in another world.

Unless it comes out of your soul like a rocket, unless being still would drive you to madness or suicide or murder, don't do it. unless the sun inside you is burning your gut, don't do it. when it is truly time, and if you have been chosen, it will do it by itself and it will keep on doing it until you die or it dies in you. there is no other way. and there never was.