Everybody has felt at one time or another that everyone else in the world had a better shot than they did, so when you engage that, you engage the reader, and I think you create a character that brings the reader more fully into the story.

One must plan for the future and anticipate the future without fearing the future.

No man is so dangerous as the man who cannot decide what he fears.

When considering a man's motives, remember you must not measure his wheat with your bushel. He may not be using the same standard at all.

Writers really do that. We weep over our characters. We are saddened sometimes for days when we say goodbye to a world or a character. They do become our best friends. I've probably spent more time with them over the past 22, 24 years than I have spent with most of the real members of my family.

Cats talk to whomever they please.

My blood will only buy you that fool's regard. I will pay a high price for you to be respected by a churl. Nothing bought with blood is worth having, young man.