Genius still means to me, in my Russian fastidiousness and pride of phrase, a unique dazzling gift. The gift of James Joyce, and not the talent of Henry James.

Knowing you have something good to read before bed is among the most pleasurable of sensations.

And the rest is rust and stardust.

Do not be angry with the rain; it simply does not know how to fall upwards.

Mind you, sometimes the angels smoke, hiding it with their sleeves, and when the archangel comes, they throw the cigarettes away: that’s when you get shooting stars.

Curiosity is insubordination in its purest form.

Lolita, light of my life, fire of my loins. My sin, my soul. Lo-lee-ta: the tip of the tongue taking a trip of three steps down the palate to tap, at three, on the teeth. Lo. Lee. Ta.

The writer's job is to get the main character up a tree, and then once they are up there, throw rocks at them.

There are aphorisms that, like airplanes, stay up only while they are in motion.

I think it is all a matter of love: the more you love a memory, the stronger and stranger it is.

Loneliness as a situation can be corrected, but as a state of mind it is an incurable illness.

Share your knowledge. It is a way to achieve immortality.

I think it’s the books that you read when you’re young that live with you forever.

We have no peace because we have forgotten that we all came from the same mother. We are brothers and sisters.

Sparks are warm while they last.

The only rock I know that stays steady, the only institution I know that works, is the family.

You have to be a strong person to be in music, especially

Plan your garden on paper. Mistakes made on paper won't cost you much in time or money.

Truth stands for Taking Real Understanding To Heart.

I even got a letter from a young woman in British Columbia that began as follows: 'Today I am eighteen. I am sitting at the window, looking out at the rain, and thinking how much I love you.'

Those who disagree with the dictator's plan have no other means to carry on than to defeat the despot by force of arms.