There's something so showy about desperation, it takes hard wits to see it's a grandiose form of funk.

Nothing can happen nowhere. The locale of the happening always colours the happening, and often, to a degree, shapes it.

If a theme or idea is too near the surface, the novel becomes simply a tract illustrating an idea.

It is in this unearthly first hour of spring twilight that earth's almost agonized livingness is most felt. This hour is so dreadful to some people that they hurry indoors and turn on the lights.

For people who live on expectations, to face up to their realization is something of an ordeal.

Not only is there no question of solitude, but in the long run we may not choose our company.

in my experience one thing you don't learn from is anything anyone set up to be a lesson; what you are to know you pick up as you go along.