I was hoping to build a country and add to its literature. That's why I served in World War II, and that's why I wrote books.

The smartest people in Indianapolis became teachers [during the Great Depression]. And, for once, there was something for women to do because teaching was regarded as a woman's profession, like nursing. So the smartest women in town - Jesus, my women teachers were so exciting.

People aren’t supposed to look back. I’m certainly not going to do it anymore.

Because we grew up surrounded by big dramatic story arcs in books and movies, we think our lives are supposed to be filled with huge ups and downs. So people pretend there is drama where there is none.

What can any one person do?' he said. 'Each person does a little something,' I said, 'and there you are.

The only way to get anything out of a writer's brains is to leave him or her alone until he or she is damn well ready to write it down.

Alcohol and marijuana, if used in moderation, plus loud, usually low-class music, make stress and boredom infinitely more bearable.