I am forced to say that I have many fiercer critics than myself.

Isaac Singer was born in Poland and doesn't write in English. Still, he's an American.

An absolutely necessary part of a writer's equipment, almost as necessary as talent, is the ability to stand up under punishment, both the punishment the world hands out and the punishment he inflicts upon himself.

Writing is like a contact sport, like football. You can get hurt, but you enjoy it.

I look at everything. God gave me eyes and I look at women and men and subway excavations and moving pictures and the little flowers of the field. I casually inspect the universe.

Ernest Hemingway did a great deal toward making the writer an acceptable public figure; obviously, he was no sissy.

I haven't stuck to any formula. Most great writers stick to the same style, but I wanted to be more various