Not the why but the what.

Go all the way with it. Do not back off. For once, go all the goddamn way with what matters.

It was like certain dinners I remember from the war. There was much wine, an ignored tension, and a feeling of things coming that you could not prevent happening. Under the wine I lost the disgusted feeling and was happy. It seemed they were all such nice people.

Don't you drink? I notice you speak slightingly of the bottle. I have drunk since I was fifteen and few things have given me more pleasure.

Good dialogue is not real speech-it's the illusion of real speech.

For a true writer each book should be a new beginning, where he tries again for something that is beyond attainment.

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