I had seen nothing sacred, and the things that were glorious had no glory and the sacrifices were like the stockyards at Chicago if nothing was done with the meat except to bury it.

I would write one true sentence, and then go on from there.

If you have a success, you have it for the wrong reasons. If you become popular it is always because of the worst aspects of your work.

Writing, at its best, is a lonely life.

Having books published is very destructive to writing.

What is the definition of guts? Grace under pressure.

They can't yank a novelist like they can a pitcher. A novelist has to go the full nine, even if it kills him.