Tragedy massages the human ego even as comedy deflates it. ... Tragedy pits us against large foes and the trip wire is our own character. ... In comedy we fall afoul of one another. Comedy depends on social life, on our behavior in groups. In tragedy you can observe one human against the gods. In comedy it's one human versus other humans and often one man (or woman if I'm writing it) against her own worst impulses.

Never hope for it more than you work for it.

Creative people do not belong in the university because the process is antithetical to the analytical process so necessary for proper scholarship.

A deadline is negative inspiration. Still, it's better than no inspiration at all.

... I distrust manifest knowledge.

Gossip is irresponsible communication.

The dead are the only people to have permanent dwellings.