I am a big fan of the electronic book. I hate to see the old bookstores close, but they have to reinvent themselves. I believe the First Edition bookstore will be the next thing. People will read electronically, then decide they want to own that book. The author will then be invited to the old bookstores to sign. I think books will always be with us, but they will fill a different need.

Fanatics are, for one thing, boring and, for another, unreliable. They tend to burn out just when you need them.

The unwillingness to try is worse than any failure.

Rage is to writers what water is to fish.

We believe 'Peter Rabbit' because Beatrix Potter believes it. You have to.

Style has a profound meaning to Black Americans. If we can’t drive, we will invent walks and the world will envy the dexterity of our feet. If we can’t have ham, we will boil chitterlings; if we are given rotten peaches, we will make cobblers; if given scraps, we will make quilts; take away our drums, and we will clap our hands. We prove the human spirit will prevail. We will take what we have to make what we need. We need confidence in our knowledge of who we are.

Poetry is the most mistaught subject in any school because we teach poetry by form and not by content.