Imagination? It is the one thing beside honesty that a good writer must have. The more he learns from experience the more he can imagine.

I've been in love (truly) with five women, the Spanish Republic and the 4th Infantry Division.

Religion is like an ice cold whiskey on a hot day.

If the book is good, is about something that you know, and is truly written, and reading it over you see that this is so, you can let the boys yip and the noise will have that pleasant sound coyotes make on a very cold night when they are out in the snow and you are in your own cabin that you have built or paid for with your work.

You know lots of criticism is written by characters who are very academic and think it is a sign you are worthless if you make jokes or kid or even clown. I wouldn't kid Our Lord if he was on the cross. But I would attempt a joke with him if I ran into him chasing the money changers out of the temple.

It's a town you come to for a short time.

Until you're grown-up they send you to reform school. After you're grown-up they send you to the penitentiary.