Every book takes me from 35 to 41 days to write. I don't know why that is. I've tried to get it down to 30 or 31, depending on the length of the month, but it won't work. I don't drink while I'm writing because it fuddles my logical processes, but when I finish a book I go down to the kitchen and pour myself a big belt.

War doesn't mature men; it merely pickles them in the brine of disgust and dread.

What good is an obscenity trial except to popularize literature?

If your ego is in good shape you will pretend you're surprised if a National Chairman calls you to tell you his party wants to nominate you for President of the United States, but you're not really surprised.

I will ride my luck on occasion, but I like to pick the occasion.

The only two kinds of books could earn an American writer a living are cookbooks and detective novels.

Everything in a story should be credible.