Our appreciations, it was felt, could be so much more inclusive if we said that something, instead of being beautiful, was 'interesting'.

If tragedy is an experience of hyperinvolvement, comedy is an experience of underinvolvement, of detachment.

Interpretation is the revenge of the intellect upon art. Even more. It is the revenge of the intellect upon the world. To interpret is to impoverish, to deplete the world -- in order to set up a shadow world of ''meanings.''

It's beginnings that are hard. I always begin with a great sense of dread and trepidation. Nietzsche says that the decision to start writing is like leaping into a cold lake.

Images are more real than anyone could have supposed.

...what I write is smarter than I am. Because I can rewrite it.

I feel that I've had enough theoretical speculation to last me a lifetime.