Since I had started to break down all my writing and get rid of all facility and try to make instead of describe, writing had been wonderful to do.

But life isn't hard to manage when you've nothing to lose.

All you have to do is write one true sentence. Write the truest sentence that you know.

First, there must be talent. . .Then there must be discipline. . .Then there must be. . .and absolute conscience. . .to prevent faking.

I started out very quiet and I beat Mr. Turgenev. Then I trained hard and I beat Mr. de Maupassant. I've fought two draws with Mr. Stendhal, and I think I had an edge in the last one. But nobody's going to get me in any ring with Mr. Tolstoy unless I'm crazy or I keep getting better.

Life is pain, so live it up while you can.

Never sit a table when you can stand at the bar.