'I never feel the need to discuss my work with anyone. No, I am too busy writing it. It has got to please me and if it does I don't need to talk about it. If it doesn't please me, talking about it won't improve it, since the only thing to improve it is to work on it some more. I am not a literary man but only a writer. I don't get any pleasure from talking shop.

The necessity of the idea creates its own style. The material itself dictates how it should be written.

The only environment the artist needs is whatever peace, whatever solitude, and whatever pleasure he can get at not too high a cost.

The quality an artist must have is objectivity in judging his work, plus the honesty and courage not to kid himself about it.

All of us failed to match our dreams of perfection. So I rate us on the base of our splendid failure to do the impossible.

This is a free country. Folks have a right to send me letters, and I have a right not to read them.

My ideal job? Landlord of a bordello! The company's good and the mornings are quiet, which is the best time to write.