With this book in my hands, reading aloud to my friends, questioning them, explaining to them, I was made clearly to understand that I had no friends, that I was alone in the world. Because in not understanding the meaning of the words, neither I nor my friends, one thing became very clear and that was that there were ways of not understanding and that the difference between the non-understanding of one individual and the non-understanding of another created a world of terra firma even more solid than differences of understanding.
Henry MillerIf the poet can no longer speak for society, but only for himself, then we are at the last ditch.
Henry MillerMadness is tonic and invigorating. It makes the sane more sane. The only ones who are unable to profit by it are the insane.
Henry MillerI demanded a realm in which I should be both master and slave at the same time: The world of art is the only such realm.
Henry MillerLiving apart and at peace with myself,I came to realize more vividly the meaning of the doctrine of acceptance. To refrain from giving advice, to refrain from meddling in the affairs of others, to refrain even though the motives be the highest, from tampering with anothers way of life-so simple, yet so difficult for an active spirit. Hands Off.
Henry Miller