I don't know what's meant by Know thyself, which seems to ask a window to look at a window.

Only half of writing is saying what you mean. The other half is preventing people from reading what they expected you to mean.

Nothing important comes with instructions.

What is more yours than what always holds you back?

The best way to know your faults is to notice which ones you accuse others of.

Writing is like washing windows in the sun. With every attempt to perfect clarity, you make a new smear.

When I am trying to write I turn on music so I can hear what is keeping me from hearing.

Sophistication is upscale conformity.

The happy and the suffering probably understand life equally well, but the sufferers may see a little more clearly how little it is that they understand.

It is the empty seats that listen most raptly.

All work is the avoidance of harder work.

The fact of the matter is that you should really stop concerning yourself with writing a book because anyone can write a book that totally sucks. There is nothing special about that.

The only people in the world who can change things are those who can sell ideas.

The ruling passion be it what it will the ruling passion conquers reason still.

If you get a no from somebody, don't say, 'I'm going to take this as some big cosmic signal.' No, you just got a no, deal with it. Just go to the next step.

Jesus is actually looking for people he can trust with his power.

Once you read, you will be free forever.

I thought I had swell ideas, and wonderful musicians, but the hell of it, no one else did.

I still don't know how I got to the big leagues because I wasn't that good.

They're on you day and night. Their oversight is just too extreme [. . .] That's why our 10-year loan, we paid it back in three years. We couldn't stand the government. The bureaucracy kills you.

Silence gives consent. [Lat., Qui tacet, consentire videtur.]