The writer in America isn't part of the culture of this country. He's like a fine dog. People like him around, but he's of no use.

Time is a fluid condition which has no existence except in the momentary avatars of individual people. There is no such thing as was - only is.

Memory believes before knowing remembers. Believes longer than recollects, longer than knowing even wonders.

The next time you try to seduce anyone, don't do it with talk, with words. Women know more about words than men ever will. And they know how little they can ever possibly mean.

Caddy got the box and set it on the floor and opened it. It was full of stars. When I was still, they were still. When I moved, they glinted and sparkled. I hushed.

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

Life was created in the valleys. It blew up onto the hills on the old terrors, the old lusts, the old despairs. That's why you must walk up the hills so you can ride down.