I knew Anais Nin, who called me after I had been away for a few years. She was seeking help because at that time no one would give her a decent review. She was made fun of.

Twice in his life Eugene Victor Debs took the long leap to the Ultima Thule of prison, passing beyond the realm of the acceptable into the nonacceptable, from respectability into the criminal community of the monster who was an enemy to the people.

I've been willing to go for years without publishing. That's been my career.

I would teach from nine to four, sleep an hour, and write from six until midnight, night after night.

All creatures are flawed, but out of the flaw may come the universe.

At the age of 18 all young poets are sure they will be dead at 21 - of old age.

I would never write realistic prose. I don't like people who try to write in a poetic style, but in the course of their book abandon it for realism, and weave back and forth like drunkards between the surreal and the real.