People are unjust to anger - it can be enlivening and a lot of fun.

Sheer Playfulness and Deadly Seriousness are my closest friends.

Everyone becomes a part of history whether they like it or not and whether they know it or not.

The question to ask about the writer isn't 'Why does he behave so badly?' but 'What does he gain by wearing this mask?

I don’t ask writers about their work habits. I really don’t care. Joyce Carol Oates says somewhere that when writers ask each other what time they start working and when they finish and how much time they take for lunch, they’re actually trying to find out, "Is he as crazy as I am?" I don’t need that question answered.

I wouldn't mind writing a long book which is going to occupy me for the rest of my life.

The secret to living in the rush of the world with a minimum of pain is to get as many people as possible to string along with your delusions.