Each of his phrases was rather like a little ancient island, inundated by a miniature sea of whiskey.

Its really hard to be roommates with people if your suitcases are much better than theirs.

She wasn't doing a thing that I could see, except standing there leaning on the balcony railing, holding the universe together.

One day a long time from now you'll cease to care anymore whom you please or what anybody has to say about you. That's when you'll finally produce the work you're capable of.

Make sure you marry someone who laughs at the same things you do.

I do not wear my emotions on my sleeve. I was once described by my own son Stephen as an emotional ostrich.

I am a kind of paranoid in reverse. I suspect people of plotting to make me happy.

I don't even like old cars. I'd rather have a goddam horse. A horse is at least human, for God's sake.

And I can't be running back and fourth forever between grief and high delight.

It's funny. All you have to do is say something nobody understands and they'll do practically anything you want them to.

The worst thing that being an artist could do to you would be that it would make you slightly unhappy constantly.

[T]he infliction of cruelty with a good conscience is a delight to moralists. That is why they invented Hell.

But you must know that only he who fights the darkness within will the day after tomorrow have his own share in the sun.

They say, timing is everything. But then they say, there is never a perfect time for anything.

She wouldn't ask. Didn't want to know what manner of thing might crawl toward a fire.

One of the most amazing locations I've ever been is the top of the volcano in Tanzania, Africa. It's an actual volcano where you really have this lava every day.

That's why there are ten gates to pass through before you reach the garden. If life were easy there would be one gate. There would be no gates at all.

Of wanting to pay my own way. I never asked my parents for money. I preferred to steal from my parents than ask them for money.

If a character dies, you get to do a big, juicy death scene. But the flip side is you're out of the sequel, which is where the real money is.

Never allow the circumstances of your life to become an excuse. People will allow you to do it. But I believe we have a personal obligation to make the most of the abilities we have.

The Pariahs, our fellow beings, ought to be educated by the higher castes.