Idleness breeds our better virtues.

A writer strives to express a universal truth in the way that rings the most bells in the shortest amount of time.

That's a very good way to learn the craft of writing - from reading.

The poet's, the writer's, duty is to write about these things. It is his privilege to help man endure by lifting his heart, by reminding him of the courage and honor and hope and pride and compassion and pity and sacrifice which have been the glory of his past. The poet's voice need not merely be the record of man, it can be one of the props, the pillars to help him endure and prevail.

I have found that the greatest help in meeting any problem with decency and self-respect and whatever courage is demanded, is to know where you yourself stand. That is, to have in words what you believe and are acting from.

An artist is completely amoral in that he will rob, beg, borrow, or steal from anybody and everybody to get the work done.

Writing a first draft is like trying to build a house in a strong wind.