Why on earth do you carry a mirror around with you?” “It's purely a defensive device. We seldom quarrel, and this is one of the reasons. Can you imagine yourself getting all worked up and contorted and illogical and then coming face to face with yourself, looking at yourself exactly as you look to everyone else?

I've always written very tightly, and there's a good reason for that. There's no point in using words that you're not going to apply.

An old-shoe lover loves loving old shoes.

Why must we love where the lightning strikes, and not where we choose?

You must write to the people's expertise.

Ninety percent of everything is crap.

I quit my job, and went ashore to become a writer.