One does not "find oneself" by pursuing one's self, but on the contrary by pursuing something else and learning through discipline or routine. . . who one is and wants to be.

I asked myself the question, 'What do you want of your life?' and I realized with a start of recognition and terror, 'Exactly what I have - but to be commensurate, to handle it all better.

Solitude is my element, and the reason is that extreme awareness of other people... precludes awareness of one's self so that after a while the self no longer knows that it exists.

Wrinkles here and there seem unimportant compared to the Gestalt of the whole person I have become in this past year.

In poetry compromise is fatal. In action of any cooperative sort it is inevitable. The thing is to find the balance.

It takes a long time for words to become thought.

When addressed, a Gentleman Cat does not move a muscle. He looks as if he hasn't heard.