Those books of mine that are remunerative - I'm not talking about poetry here - take years to write, and I am never sure they'll be successful. So writing is a risk in more senses than one.

I sometimes seem to myself to wander around the world merely accumulating material for future nostalgias.

Don't put things off till it's too late. You are the DJ of your fate.

Put your backbone where your wishbone is.

The thing about inspiration is that it takes your mind off everything else.

And an equation is the same whether it's written in red or green ink

I certainly think its very important that writers as citizens - not necessarily as writers, but just as ordinary citizens - should talk about things that matter to them.

What is the difference between my life and my love? One gets me low, the other lets me go.

I think it's possible to be multi-rooted, rather like a banyan tree, without being deracinated.

I think if something is worth doing, it's worth doing well. And worth thinking about it as well.

To not be able to love the one you love is to have your life wrenched away.

Life sucks, then you die. Then it sucks again.

Given the option, would you rather choose the right path, even though it’s difficult, or the easy route, knowing that you’ll be compromising your standards?

If you want to achieve things in life, you've just got to do them, and if you're talented and smart, you'll succeed.

I don't think there's really any difference between art - or writing, or music - and magic. And I particularly draw the link between magic and writing. I think that they are profoundly connected.

Never rank, rate, or compare coaches, children, concerts, or championships or congratulations. Just enjoy them all.

It is not what you think should be, but what is, that is interesting. When you have the expectation that something should be such and such a way, you will never learn what your nature wants.

Donald Trump doesn't like to debate and knows in his heart of hearts he isn't great at it.

I thank God for not making me a computer scientist.

Life's too short to spend with important people.

Another nice thing was that I would type out letters home for the admiral's stewards. They would then feed me the same food the admiral ate.