I think being interested is really what being civilized is about. I mean, you have to be conscious of everything.

The problem of making artists talk about their work is that when they're making their work the left-brain is shut off. So if you talk to an artist about it, you're talking to someone who wasn't there. It's hopeless.

There's a double standard between writers and readers. Readers can be unfaithful to writers anytime they like, but writers must never ever be unfaithful to the readers.

I find that the mask of the critic is to have distance.

Beauty is a physiological reaction. Beauty is not an object.

With art criticism it's difficult to discuss beauty, to assess it, because there's always the possibility that we're insane.

I can do pretty good work in various short forms, but anything over 1400 words, I'd be of no use. I like to say I'm a river navigator. I need to see the shore behind the shore.