The Circle Theatre, black people had to sit in the balcony. Any theater with a balcony, black people had to sit up there. Black people couldn't check into any hotel except their own. And black people couldn't eat anywhere except in their own restaurants.

The bounties of space, of infinite outwardness, were three: empty heroics, low comedy, and pointless death.

He did not think of himself as a writer for the simple reason that the world had never allowed him to think of himself in this way.

There were creative-writin g teachers long before there were creative-writin g courses, and they were called and continue to be called editors.

Music makes practically everybody fonder of life than he or she would be without it.

There were lots of things to stop and see-and then it was time to go, always time to go.

If I should ever die, God forbid, I hope you will say, 'Kurt is up in heaven now.' That's my favorite joke.