From very early on in my childhood - four, five years old - I felt alien to the human race. I felt very comfortable with thinking I was from another planet, because I felt disconnected - I was very tall and skinny, and I didn't look like anybody else, I didn't even look like any member of my family.

Outside of society, if you're looking that's where you'll find me.

I got over the loss of his desk and chair, but never the desire to produce a string of words more precious than the emeralds of Cortés.

A writer, or any artist, can’t expect to be embraced by the people [but] you just keep doing your work - because you have to, because it’s your calling.

An artist wears his work in place of wounds.

The only parts I like out of any of those women books is the dirty parts. But I don't think their dirty parts are any good, really.

I don't wanna be equal with anybody. I wanna be above equal. I don't think most people are equal to me. I'd like to communicate with everybody; I'd like to do something universal, I'd like to have the hit record of the world. But that's not the same as being equal.