Though I've lived in the rural West most of my life, I never once fell in love with a horse. Not once. Neither end.

Music clouds the intellect but clarifies the heart.

There is no force more potent in the modern world than stupidity fueled by greed.

The majority of American writers today have chosen passive non-resistance to things as they are, producing sloughs of poetry about their personal angst and anomie, cascades of short stories and rivers of novels obsessed with the nuances of domestic relationships - suburban hanky-panky - chic boutique shopping mall literary soap opera. When they do speak out on matters of controversy they attack not the evils of our time but fellow writers who may insist on complaining.

most of my wandering in the desert i've done alone. not so much from choice as from necessity - i generally prefer to go into places where no one else wants to go. i find that in contemplating the natural world my pleasure is greater if there are not too many others contemplating it with me, at the same time.

Life without music would be an intolerable insult.

I despise my own nation most. Because I know it best. Because I still love it, suffering from Hope. For me, that's patrotism.