The race of children possesses magically sagacious powers.

There are two kinds of people. One kind, you can just tell by looking at them at what point they congealed into their final selves. It might be a very nice self, but you know you can expect no more surprises from it. Whereas, the other kind keep moving, changing... They are fluid. They keep moving forward and making new trysts with life, and the motion of it keeps them young. In my opinion, they are the only people who are still alive. You must be constantly on your guard against congealing.

Good teaching is one-fourth preparation and three-fourths pure theatre.

I work continuously within the shadow of failure. For every novel that makes it to my publisher's desk, there are at least five or six that died on the way. And even with the ones I do finish, I think of all the ways they might have been better.

Something's your vocation if it keeps making more of you.

Learning when 'enough is enough' is the discipline of a lifetime.

None of us suddenly becomes something overnight. The preparations have been in the making for lifetime.