Yes, success is everything. Failure is more common. Most achieve a sort of middling thing, but fortunately one's situation is always blurred, you never know absolutely quite where you are.

Write about what you're afraid of.

I don’t think you can talk about progress in art—movement, but not progress.

Maybe writing can't be taught, but editing can be taught—prayer, fasting and self-mutilation.

Succeed! It has been done, and with a stupidity that can astound the most experienced.

Any genuine work of art generates new work.

Anathematization of the world is not an adequate response to the world.