Even sound seemed to fail in this air, like the air was worn out with carrying sounds so long.

Tell about the South. What's it like there. What do they do there. Why do they live there. Why do they live at all.

Let the writer take up surgery or bricklaying if he is interested in technique.

All of us have failed to match our dream of perfection. I rate us on the basis of our splendid failure to do the impossible. If I could write all my work again, I'm convinced I could do it better. This is the healthiest condition for an artist. That's why he keeps working, trying again: he believes each time that this time he will do it, bring it off. Of course he won't.

Dear God, let me be damned a little longer, a little while.

She was bored. She loved, had capacity to love, for love, to give and accept love. Only she tried twice and failed twice to find somebody not just strong enough to deserve it, earn it, match it, but even brave enough to accept it.

Don't bother just to be better than others. Try to be better than yourself.