Cowardice, as distinguished from panic, is almost always simply a lack of ability to suspend the functioning of the imagination.

Mice: What is the best early training for a writer? Y.C.: An unhappy childhood.

There was no really good true war book during the entire four years of the war. The only true writing that came through during the war was in poetry. One reason for this is that poets are not arrested as quickly as prose writers.

Fish," he said, "I love you and respect you very much. But I will kill you dead before this day ends.

You did not kill the fish only to keep alive and to sell for food, he thought. You killed him for pride and because you are a fisherman. You loved him when he was alive and you loved him after. If you love him, it is not a sin to kill him. Or is it more?

How did we go bankrupt? Two ways. Slowly, and then all of a sudden.

The story was writing itself and I was having a hard time keeping up with it.