The mind can be trained to relieve itself on paper.

One of the ridiculous aspects of being a poet is the huge gulf between how seriously we take ourselves and how generally we are ignored by everybody else.

A motto I've adopted is, if at first you don't succeed, hide all evidence that you ever tried.

Poetry is like standing on the edge of a lake on a moonlit night and the light of the moon is always pointing straight at you.

Nationalism is a type of insanity in which the boundaries of a land replace God.

In the process of simplifying oneself, one often discovers the thing called voice.

Write the poem only you can write.

But my heart is always propped up in a field on its tripod, ready for the next arrow.

But tonight, the lion of contentment has placed a warm heavy paw on my chest.

While the novelist is banging on his typewriter, the poet is watching a fly in the windowpane.

So many names, there is barely room on the walls of the heart.

Take care of your words and the words will take care of you.

Deep within man dwell those slumbering powers powers that would astonish him that he never dreamed of possessing forces that would revolutionize his life if aroused and put into action.

To try to be better is to be better.

All writers have their own pet commandments.

Always design a thing by considering it in its next larger context.

Truly, sister, you were born to be a widow. (Tyrion to Cersei)

I try to have my voice be heard, but not on a regular basis on TV.

I have such a girl-crush on Reese Witherspoon. I would love to do a comedy with her.

I like the odd glass of wine, a coffee and a cigarette. As you get older you can't see the wrinkles

To do evil is more within the reach of every man, in public as in private life, than to do good.