You are only really in love once in your life, and that is the first time.

When you are a free and independent writer, without employer, without hours or deadlines, you have to play little games to force yourself into the actual writing. For me, one game is to announce... that I have finally decided on my next book, that I am ready to write it... to put my pride on the line.

Those poor people know Communism gives them bread, while democracy gives them a vote and a Letter to the Editor.

To be one’s self, and unafraid whether right or wrong, is more admirable than the easy cowardice of surrender to conformity.

To be ones self and unafraid whether right or wrong is more admirable than the easy cowardice of surrender to conformity.

Even if I could not earn a penny from my writing, I would earn my livelihood at something else and continue to write at night.

Read all you can about it, interview experts on it, even travel to the sites of the story to guarantee authenticity and get a feel for the background.

Every man can transform the world from one of monotony and drabness to one of excitement and adventure.

..kau harus memperlakukan kegiatan menulismu sebagai sebuah karier. Kau tidak boleh membicarakannya. Kau harus melakukannya-ingin melakukannya, suka melakukannya walaupun harus kesepian, merasa bahwa di bumi tidak ada yang lebih penting ketika kau sedang melakukannya.

...menulislah setiap hari, berpura-pura bahwa kau menerima gaji, berpura-pura bahwa kau harus menyerahkan sesuatu atau dipecat