The important thing in writing is the capacity to astonish. Not shock - shock is a worn-out word - but read more

The important thing in writing is the capacity to astonish. Not shock - shock is a worn-out word - but astonish.

I lived to write, and wrote to live

I lived to write, and wrote to live

Writing is making sense of life. You work your whole life and perhaps you've made sense of one small area.

Writing is making sense of life. You work your whole life and perhaps you've made sense of one small area.

Writing a book is an adventure. To begin with, it is a toy and an amusement; then it becomes a read more

Writing a book is an adventure. To begin with, it is a toy and an amusement; then it becomes a mistress, and then it becomes a master, and then a tyrant. The last phase is that just as you are about to be reconciled to your servitude, you kill the monster, and fling him out to the public.

Thinking is easy, acting is difficult, and to put one's thoughts into action is the most difficult thing in the read more

Thinking is easy, acting is difficult, and to put one's thoughts into action is the most difficult thing in the world.

I think and think for months and years. Ninety-nine times, the conclusion is false. The hundredth time I am right.

I think and think for months and years. Ninety-nine times, the conclusion is false. The hundredth time I am right.

I put all my genius into my life; I put only my talent into my works.

I put all my genius into my life; I put only my talent into my works.

The difficulty of literature is not to write, but to write what you mean

The difficulty of literature is not to write, but to write what you mean

Writing is thinking on paper.

Writing is thinking on paper.