Art, of course, is a way of thinking, a way of mining reality.

Self pity is easily the most destructive of the non-pharmaceutical narcotics; it is addictive, gives momentary pleasure and separates the victim from reality.

Talking, talking. Spinning a web of words, pale walls of dreams, between myself and all I see.

We read five words on the first page of a really good novel and we begin to forget that we are reading printed words on a page; we begin to see images.

What art ought to do is tell stories which are moment-by-moment wonderful, which are true to human experience, and which in no way explain human experience.

The citizen can bring our political and governmental institutions back to life, make them responsive and accountable, and keep them honest. No one else can.

Fiction does not spring into the world fully grown, like Athena. It is the process of writing and rewriting that makes a fiction original, if not profound.

As a rule of thumb I say, if Socrates, Jesus and Tolstoy wouldn't do it, don't.

When people are serving, life is no longer meaningless.

One of the many interesting challenges nature presents us is its apparent disinterest in maintaining the order humans crave.

One must be just a little crazy to write a great novel. One must be capable of allowing the darkest, most ancient and shrewd parts of one’s being to take over the work from time to time.

I hid my love when young till ICouldn't bear the buzzing of a fly

There are at least two kinds of cowards. One kind always lives with himself afraid to face the world. The other kind lives with the world afraid to face himself.

I do not condemn any personal choices for intimate relationships. Love is love. I detest only the violence and trauma that any self-centered conduct can cause to others.

As soon as digital editing came about, I immediately made the switch to digital.

Linguistic danger to spiritual freedom.- Every word is a prejudice.

You know who was wonderful to work with? Was Paul Gleason, may he rest in peace.

The longing for order is at the same time a longing for death, because life is an incessant disruption of order.

Everything that the Sam Simon Foundation does is supposed to help dogs and people - that's our mission.

When I do a still picture, I'm doing it all by myself with no help. I'm designing everything. I am my own art director. I'm doing everything. I'm directing, editing, whatever.

And Thou shalt never, but never be a bystander.