I prefer old books and find them more relevant. I dislike new books. It's like drinking wine that's not ready.

I don't know why the world has changed so much that writers are now expected to appear in public and talk about their work. It's something I find very difficult. And yet, one does have some sense of responsibility towards one's publishers, to the people trying to sell the book.

Nerds are just deep, and neurotic, fans. Needy fans. We're all nerds, on one subject or another.

The kernel, the soul - let us go further and say the substance, the bulk, the actual and valuable material of all human utterances - is plagiarism.

I want what we all want," said Carl. "To move certain parts of the interior of myself into the exterior world, to see if they can be embraced.

Fantastic writing in English is kind of disreputable, but fantastic writing in translation is the summit.

For me, music is sort of the art that I can't incorporate into my person the way I want to.