She would of been a good woman," said The Misfit, "if it had been somebody there to shoot her every minute of her life.

Poorly written novels--no matter how pious and edifying the behavior of the characters--are not good in themselves and are therefore not really edifying.

Whenever I’m asked why Southern writers particularly have a penchant for writing about freaks, I say it is because we are still able to recognize one.

Harcourt sent my book to Evelyn Waugh and his comment was: “If this is really the unaided work of a young lady, it is a remarkable product.” My mother was vastly insulted. She put the emphasis on if and lady. Does he suppose you’re not a lady? she says.

All human nature vigorously resists grace because grace changes us and the change is painful.

Total non-retention has kept my education from being a burden to me.

The artist uses his reason to discover an answering reason in everything he sees.