With knowledge there is no hope,... without hope I would sit motionless, rusting like unused armor.

To a monster the norm must seem monstrous, since everyone is normal to himself.

Fearful and unprepared, we have assumed lordship over the life or death of the whole world, of all living things.

A creative person has to be alive. He can't borrow from things he's done in the past. He can't let his method choose his subjects or his characters. They can't be warped to fit his style.

The utter insanity of living in a place like this doesn't occur to the 9,000,000 people who inhabit New York. Except for visits I think I shall not be here any more as a resident.

I know now why confusion in government is not only tolerated but encouraged. I have learned. A confused people can make no clear demands.

I think today if we forbade our illiterate children to touch the wonderful things of our literature, perhaps they might steal them and find secret joy.