I was eleven, then I was sixteen. Though no honors came my way, those were the lovely years.

Never demean yourself by talking back to a critic, never. Write those letters to the editor in your head, but don't put them on paper.

What I do requires fantastic concentration... but you can't be totally alone, or you lose all contact with reality, so even when I'm engrossed and secluded, Jack Dunphy can be there. He's my oldest and best friend, and best critic too.

A beautiful day with the buoyancy of a bird.

I haven't anything against whores, except this: some of them may have an honest tongue but they all have dishonest hearts.

Never love a wild thing...If you let yourself love a wild thing. You'll end up looking at the sky.

All writing, all art, is an act of faith. If one tries to contribute to human understanding, how can that be called decadent? It's like saying a declaration of love is an act of decadence. Any work of art, provide it springs from a sincere motivation to further understanding between people, is an act of faith and therefore is an act of love.