The most important things are the hardest things to say. They are the things you get ashamed of, because words diminish them - words shrink things that seemed limitless when they were in your head to no more than living size when they're brought out.

never's the word God listens for when he needs a laugh.

You can't deny laughter; when it comes, it plops down in your favorite chair and stays as long as it wants.

They were trying to run, trying to hide. But the rock would not hide them; the dead tree gave no shelter.

I see things, that's all. Write enough stories and every shadow on the floor looks like a footprint; every line in the dirt like a secret message.

Hurt's a reason to change, but all the hurt in the world don't change facts.

I've put men to death-men with supposedly immortal souls-that looked dumber than that mouse