When a condition or a problem becomes too great, humans have the protection of not thinking about it. But it goes inward and minces up with a lot of other things already there and what comes out is discontent and uneasiness, guilt and a compulsion to get something--anything--before it is all gone.

We can shoot rockets into space but we can't cure anger or discontent.

Maybe the hardest thing in writing is simply to tell the truth about things as we see them.

We have never understood why men mount the heads of animals and hang them up to look down on their conquerers. Possibly it feels good to these men to feel superior to animals, but does it not seem that if they were sure of it they would not have to prove it? Often a man who is afraid must constantly demonstrate his courage and, in the case of the hunter, must keep a tangible record of his courage.

Texas is not a state - it's a state of mind.

The discipline of the written word punishes both stupidity and dishonesty.

I've done my damndest to rip a reader's nerves to rags, I don't want him satisfied.