There is something in us, as storytellers and as listeners to stories, that demands the redemptive act, that demands that what falls at least be offered the chance to be restored.

Most of us come to the church by a means the church does not allow.

So many people can now write competent stories that the short story is in danger of dying of competence.

Even a child with normal feet was in love with the world after he had got a new pair of shoes.

I will rejoice the day when they say: This is right whether we all rot on top of each other or not, dear children, as we certainly may. Either practice restraint or be prepared for crowding.

It's always wrong of course to say that you can't do this or you can't do that in fiction. You can do anything you can get away with, but nobody has ever gotten away with much.

It began to drizzle rain and he turned on the windshield wipers; they made a great clatter like two idiots clapping in church.