The aesthetic experience has to be given. And beauty is a regular experience of every person - every person who is not clinically depressed!

I do have pleasure when I'm writing. I mean, I'm aware of pleasure. And sometimes I make myself laugh, with a joke or something; or I feel gleeful.

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.

The aesthetic experience has to be given. And beauty is a regular experience of every person - every person who is not clinically depressed!

I have a total responsibility to the reader. The reader has to trust me and never feel betrayed.

Artists are sometimes in a position to tell the truth, but they're positioned as a Cassandra. They're gifted with impeccable prophecy and the assurance of never being listened to.

Matisse can make you hate your life for its comparatively insipid joys.