Presidents do not go off on leave without telling the country.

Living fire begets cold, impotent ash.

In America there is really very little knowledge of the literature of the rest of the world. Of the literature of Latin America, yes, But that's not all that different in inspiration from that of America, or of Europe. One must go further. You don't even have to go too far in terms of geography - you can start with the Native Americans and listen to their poetry.

It has always been quite apparent to me that no important story can fail to tell us something of value to us.

Literature, whether handed down by word or mouth or in print, gives us a second handle on reality.

I think as you grow up and you see things which are around you and you ask questions and you hear the answers, your situation becomes more and more of a puzzle. Now, why is it like this, why are things like this and since writing is one way in which one can ask this questions and try to find these answers, it seems to me a very natural thing to do, especially as it meant stories which I always found moving, almost unbearably necessary.

Art is man's constant effort to create for himself a different order of reality from that which is given to him.