The work never matches the dream of perfection the artist has to start with.

any live man is better than any dead man but no live or dead man is very much better than any other live or dead man

The clock tick-tocked, solemn and profound. It might have been the dry pulse of the decaying house itself, after a while it whirred and cleared its throat and struck six times.

It's always the idle habits you acquire which you will regret. Father said that. That Christ was not crucified: he was worn away by a minute clicking of little wheels. That had no sister.

It begins with a character, usually, and once he stands up on his feet and begins to move, all I can do is trot along behind him with a paper and pencil trying to keep up long enough to put down what he says and does.

Don Quixote — I read that every year, as some do the Bible.

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