Many writers who choose to be active in the world lose not virtue but time, and that stillness without which literature cannot be made.

When anyone says to me, 'Can you keep a secret?' I say, 'Why should I, if you can't?'

Writers who teach tend to prefer literary theory to literature and tenure to all else. Writers who do not teach prefer the contemplation of Careers to art of any kind.

Sex is. There is nothing more to be done about it. Sex builds no roads, writes no novels and sex certainly gives no meaning to anything in life but itself.

Each writer is born with a repertory company in his head. Shakespeare has perhaps 20 players. ... I have 10 or so, and thats a lot. As you get older, you become more skillful at casting them.

First coffee, then a bowel movement. Then the Muse joins me.

We have a great deal to learn from Scandinavia and a great deal to be alarmed at from the Mediterranean.