Cousin, the days of gods and heroes are over." "Not to me. Not to them.

Courage is inseparable from love and leads to what may arguably be the noblest of all warrior virtues: selflessness.

If you're are paralyzed with fear it's a good sign. It shows you what you have to do.

When we turn pro we stop running from our fears. We turn around and face them.

One thing I've found in any project is almost universally about three quarters of the way through - or maybe a little father, maybe seventh eighths on the way through - any project will explode.

This is the other secret that real artists know and wannabe writers don’t. When we sit down each day and do our work, power concentrates around us. The Muse takes note of our dedication. She approves. We have earned favor in her sight. When we sit down and work, we become like a magnetized rod that attracts iron filings. Ideas come. Insights accrete.

No industry is immune and no occupation is safe. All of us need to begin to think in terms of our own inner strengths, our resilience and resourcefulness, our capacity to adapt and to rely upon ourselves and our families.