I think there's one thing which distinguishes our art - we don't consider. We don't think. We write a little verse because it comes to us.

When modern writers gave up telling stories, they gave up the greatest thing we had.

History is one of those marvelous and necessary illusions we have to deal with. It's one of the ways of dealing with our world with impossible generalities which we couldn't live without.

A teacher is a person who never says anything once.

The historian is terribly responsible to what he can discern are the facts of the case, but he's nothing if he doesn't make out a case.

Short stories amount for the most part to parlour tricks, party favours with built-in snappers, gadgets for including recognition and reversals

Writing is like the relationship with your bowels. First you can, then you can't. Finally, you must. Only then should you reach for the paper.