Most of the men regarded Europe as a wine list. In their mental geography Rheims, Rhine, Moselle, Bordeaux, Champagne, or Würzburg were not localities but libations.

Life can't ever really defeat a writer who is in love with writing, for life itself is a writer's lover until death – fascinating, cruel, lavish, warm, cold, treacherous, constant.

There's no sauce for play like work.

Living the past is a dull and lonely business; looking back strains the neck muscles, causing you to bump into people not going your way.

Big doesn't necessarily mean better. Sunflowers aren't better than violets.

here in Texas maybe we've got into the habit of confusing bigness with greatness.

A story must simmer in its own juice for months or even years before it's ready to serve.