There are no ugly questions except those clothed in condescension.
The writer must believe that what he is doing is the most important thing in the world. And he must hold to this illusion even when he knows it is not true.
The writer is delegated to declare and to celebrate man’s proven capacity for greatness of heart and spirit – for gallantry in defeat – for courage, compassion and love. In the endless war against weakness and despair, these are the bright rally-flags of hope and of emulation.
The word is a symbol and a delight which sucks up men and scenes, trees, plants, factories, and Pekinese. Then the Thing becomes the Word and back to Thing again, but warped and woven into a fantastic pattern.
The profession of book-writing makes horse-racing seem like a solid, stable business.
The misery stayed, not thought about but aching away, and sometimes I would have to ask myself, Why do I ache? Men can get used to anything, but it takes time.
The good story lay in half-told things which must be filled in out of the hearer’s own experience.
The free, exploring mind of the individual human is the most valuable thing in the world.
The discipline of the written word punishes both stupidity and dishonesty.
The candle aimed its spear of light at Heaven, like an artist who consumes himself to become divine.
The afternoon came down as imperceptibly as age comes to a happy man.
Syntax, my lad. It has been restored to the highest place in the republic.
