The immature artist imitates. The mature artist steals.

Our culture peculiarly honors the act of blaming, which it takes as the sign of virtue and intellect.

Where misunderstanding serves others as an advantage, one is helpless to make oneself understood.

What marks the artist is his power to shape the material of pain we all have.

Reasons for not keeping a notebook: 1) the ambiguity of the reader--it is never quite oneself. 2) I usually hate the sight of my handwriting--it lives too much and I dislike its life--I mean by "lives," of course, betrays too much!

Youth is a time when we find the books we give up but do not get over.

Immature ists imitate. Mature ists steal.