Criticism is a misconception: we must read not to understand others but to understand ourselves.

Criticism is a misconception: we must read not to understand others but to understand ourselves.

To write is to make oneself the echo of what cannot cease speaking -- and since it cannot, in order read more

To write is to make oneself the echo of what cannot cease speaking -- and since it cannot, in order to become its echo I have, in a way, to silence it. I bring to this incessant speech the decisiveness, the authority of my own silence.

Read the best books first, or you may not have a chance to read them all.

Read the best books first, or you may not have a chance to read them all.

Every writing career starts as a personal quest for sainthood, for self-betterment. Sooner or later, and as a rule quite read more

Every writing career starts as a personal quest for sainthood, for self-betterment. Sooner or later, and as a rule quite soon, a man discovers that his pen accomplishes a lot more than his soul.

Satire is often the reflection of a kind of moral nausea.

Satire is often the reflection of a kind of moral nausea.

One must be a wise reader to quote wisely and well.

One must be a wise reader to quote wisely and well.

A blow with a word strikes deeper than a blow with a sword.

A blow with a word strikes deeper than a blow with a sword.

Reading is to the mind what exercise is to the body.

Reading is to the mind what exercise is to the body.

Words represent your intellect. The sound, gesture and movement represent your feelings.

Words represent your intellect. The sound, gesture and movement represent your feelings.