I have wondered why is it that some people are less affected and torn by the verities of life and death that others.

It’s a hard thing to leave any deeply routine life, even if you hate it.

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.

All Americans believe that they are born fishermen. For a man to admit a distaste for fishing would be like denouncing mother-love or hating moonlight.

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.

When you know a friend is there you do not go to see him. Then he's gone and you blast your conscience to shreds that you did not see him.

When a man says he does not want to speak of something he usually means he can think of nothing else.