As happens sometimes, a moment settled and hovered and remained for much more than a moment. And sound stopped and movement stopped for much, much more than a moment.

His ear heard more than what was said to him, and his slow speech had overtones not of thought, but of understanding beyond thought.

In my heart there may be doubt that I deserve the Nobel award over other men of letters whom I hold in respect and reverence, but there is no question of my pleasure and pride in having it for myself.

A book is like a man - clever and dull, brave and cowardly, beautiful and ugly. For every flowering thought there will be a page like a wet and mangy mongrel, and for every looping flight a tap on the wing and a reminder that wax cannot hold the feathers firm too near the sun.

Like most modern people, I don't believe in prophecy or magic and then spend half my time practicing it.

This I would fight for: the freedom of the mind to take any direction it wishes, undirected.

I think of my life as a kind of music, not always good music but still having form and melody.