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The first act of insight is throw away the labels. In fiction, while we do not necessarily write about ourselves, we write out of ourselves, using ourselves; what we learn from, what we are sensitive to, what we feel strongly about--these become our characters and go to make our plots. Characters in fiction are conceived from within, and they have, accordingly, their own interior life; they are individuals every time.

The dead are never silent.

Since we must and do write each our own way, we may during actual writing get more lasting instruction not from another's work, whatever its blessings, however better it is than ours, but from our own poor scratched-over pages. For these we can hold up to life. That is, we are born with a mind and heart to hold each page up to, and to ask: is it valid? ("Words Into Fiction")

Every writer, like everybody else, thinks he's living through the crisis of the ages. To write honestly and with all our powers is the least we can do, and the most.

On the heights, all paths are paved with daggers.

When you leap from a cliff, it is too late for anything but holding to your courage. And hoping there's a haywain at the bottom to land in.

The more bosom a woman displayed, the less she wanted you to look. Openly, at least.

A jealous wife is like a hornets’ nest in your mattress.

No path of flowers leads to glory.

Young men and fools sometimes bear pain they do not have to as a badge of their pride. Or their foolishness.

Only a fool thinks his enemies stand still when he isn't looking, my Lord Dragon.

If you don't know everything, you must go on with what you do know.