God, how I still love private readers. It’s what we all used to be.

One day a long time from now you'll cease to care anymore whom you please or what anybody has to say about you. That's when you'll finally produce the work you're capable of.

He said I was unequipped to meet life because I had no sense of humor.

Are all your stars shining?

There are nice things in the world - and I mean nice things. We're all such morons to get so sidetracked.

I don't even like old cars. I'd rather have a goddam horse. A horse is at least human, for God's sake.

Among other things, you'll find that you're not the first person who was ever confused and frightened and even sickened by human behavior. You're by no means alone on that score, you'll be excited and stimulated to know. Many, many men have been just as troubled morally and spiritually as you are right now. Happily, some of them kept records of their troubles. You'll learn from them—if you want to. Just as someday, if you have something to offer, someone will learn something from you. It's a beautiful reciprocal arrangement. And it isn't education. It's history. It's poetry.