The war between being and nothingness is the underlying illness of the twentieth century. Boredom slays more of existence than war.

Amateurs... venture into scenes that a writer with more experience (and more professional concern) would bypass or eschew altogether.

Part of the oncoming demise (of New York during its terrible fiscal crisis) is that none of us can simply believe it. We were always the best and the strongest of cities, and our people were vital to the teeth. Knock them down eight times and they would get up with that look in the eye which suggests the fight has barely begun.

Boredom slays more of existence than war.

With the pride of the artist, you must blow against the walls of every power that exists the small trumpet of your defiance.

There's nothing glorious about being a professional. . . . Professionalism probably comes down to being able to work on a bad day.

Mailer's Law: A thing either gets better or it costs more to run it the way it was.