We had played a kid's version of gang fighting called "Civil War," and then later we had got in on the real thing, we fought with chains and we fought barefisted and we fought Socs and we fought other grease gangs. It was a normal childhood.

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

I don't know why I go to school unless for kicks, oh well might as well do dissect a frog.

All of a sudden it felt like people were peering over my shoulder, wondering what I would write next. I was blocked for four years.

I made up my mind that I'd get out of that place and I didI learned that if you want to get somewhere, you just make up your mind and work like hell til you get there. If you want to go somewhere in life, you just have to work till you make it.

The difference is that was then, this is now.

When I stepped out into the bright sunlight from the darkness of the movie house, I had only two things on my mind: Paul Newman and a ride home.