Kerosene," he said, because the silence had lengthened, "is nothing but perfume to me.

I don't see myself as a philosopher. That's awfully boring.

What should I do?" "Throw up in your typewriter every morning." "Yeah." "Clean up every noon.

Don't ask for guarantees. And don't look to be saved in any one thing, person, machine, or library. Do your own bit of saving, and if you drown, at least die knowing you were heading for shore.

That's the great secret of creativity. You treat ideas like cats: you make them follow you.

The father hesitated only a moment. He felt the vague pain in his chest. If I run, he thought, what will happen? Is Death important? No. Everything that happens before Death is what counts. And we've done fine tonight. Even Death can't spoil it.

Kids love me because I write stories that tell them about their capacity for evil. I'm one of the few writers who lets you cleanse yourself that way.