The romantic treatment of death asserts that people were made singular, made more interesting, by their illnesses.

Norman Mailer in his writings is ultimately more concerned with success than with danger; danger is only a means to success.

Time exists in order that everything doesn’t happen all at once…and space exists so that it doesn’t all happen to you.

Love words, agonize over sentences. And pay attention to the world.

Using quotations was at first quite spontaneous for me, but then this use became strengthened through reflection. But originally this practice came out of temperament.

Quotation is a method of appropriation which is invincible, I think. It's not a procedure which displeases me, contrary to recycling.

The best emotions to write out of are anger and fear or dread. The least energizing emotion to write out of is admiration. It is very difficult to write out of because the basic feeling that goes with admiration is a passive contemplative mood.