A writer is like a gypsy. He owes no allegiance to any government. If he is a good writer he will never like any government he lives under. His hand should be against it and its hand will always be against him.

Live it up so you can write it down.

There isn't any me. I'm you. Don't make up a separate me.

I try not to borrow, first you borrow then you beg.

There can be no great literature in America until her writers have learned to trust her implicitly and love her devoutly.

Up the road, in his shack, the old man was sleeping again. He was still sleeping on his face and the boy was sitting by him watching him. The old man was dreaming about the lions.

Everything is your fault if you're any damn good.