Mallarme said that everything in the world exists in order to end in a book. Today everything exists to end in a photograph.

Wherever people feel safe — they will be indifferent.

I do not think white America is committed to granting equality to the American Negro... this is a passionately racist country; it will continue to be so in the foreseeable future.

Never worry about being obsessive. I like obsessive people. Obsessive people make great art

In contrast to the written account-which, depending on its complexity of thought, reference, and vocabulary, is pitched at a larger or smaller readership-a photograph has only one language and is destined potentially for all.

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.

Fear of sexuality is the new, disease-sponsored register of the universe of fear in which everyone now lives.