A natural New Yorker is a native of the present tense.

Because of the influence of the cinema, most reports or stories of violence are so pictorial that they lack content or meaning. The camera brings them to our eyes, but does not settle them in our minds, nor in time.

A short story is. . .frequently the celebration of character at bursting point.

The Canadian spirit is cautious, observant and critical where the American is assertive.

[London] is sentimental and tolerant. The attitude to foreigners is like the attitude to dogs: Dogs are neither human nor British, but so long as you keep them under control, give them their exercise, feed them, pat them, you will find their wild emotions are amusing, and their characters interesting.

One recalls how much the creative impulse of the best-sellers depends upon self-pity. It is an emotion of great dramatic potential.

It is well known that, when two authors meet, they at once start talking about money-like everyone else.