If you have any young friends who aspire to become writers, the second-greatest favor you can do them is to present them with copies of The Elements of Style. The first-greatest, of course, is to shoot them now, while they're happy.

The writer's way is rough and lonely, and who would choose it while there are vacancies in more gracious professions, such as, say, cleaning out ferryboats?

Art is a form of catharsis emotional release, purging, cleansing, purifying.

Some men break your heart in two, Some men fawn and flatter, Some men never look at you; And that cleans up the matter.

And there was that poor sucker Flaubert rolling around on his floor for three days looking for the right word.

How do people go to sleep? I'm afraid I've lost the knack. I might try busting myself smartly over the temple with the night-light. I might repeat to myself, slowly and soothingly, a list of quotations beautiful from minds profound; if I can remember any of the damn things.

Men seldom make passes at girls who wear glasses.