He had been standing still; for an artist, one of the more painful forms of death.

The writer ... an athlete required to break the four-minute mile every morning.

Misery is the only thing in the world that has no end or edge.

Reading is a stouthearted activity, disporting courage, keenness, stick-to-it-ness.

To be an artist is first to be a manual laborer.

Reading is a stout-hearted activity, disporting courage, keenness, stick-to-it-ness. It is also, in my experience, one of the most thrilling and enduring delights of life, equal to a home run, a slam-dunk, or breaking the four-minute mile.

I knew that I had to find out more about van Gogh. Even though I was far too young, and felt I did not have sufficient technique to write a book about Vincent van Gogh, I knew I had to try. If I didn't I would never write anything else.