I guess I just couldn't see standing there -- alive, talking, thinking, breathing, being -- one second, and dead the next. It really bothered me. Death by violence isn't the same as dying any other way, accident or disease or old age. It just ain't the same.

I learned that if you want to get somewhere, you just make up your mind and work like hell til you get there.

Things were rough all over, but it was better that way. That way you could tell the other guy was human too.

Writer's were supposed to be a litte crazy

You still have a lot of time to make yourself be what you want. There's still lots of good in the world. Tell Dally. I don't think he knows.

I have no idea why I write. The old standards are: I like to express my feelings, stretch my imagination, earn money.

Sixteen years on the streets and you can learn a lot. But all the wrong things, not the things you want to learn. Sixteen years on the streets and you see a lot. But all the wrong sights, not the things you want to see.