Lord of the Rings, I think, is far and away the most brilliantly done stuff.

A true friend is someone who is there for you when he'd rather be anywhere else.

Art is always in the eyes of the beholder. Only posterity has the right to point out our mistakes.

When I'm my own editor, there's very little difference between the first draft and the final. I write what feels right to begin with. I rarely make any major changes.

It all depends on which side of the desk you're sitting on.

I always wanted to fire rays out of my fingertips.

I think jazz and comic books are probably the two uniquely American art forms.

In general, shorter is better. If you can encapsulate your idea into a single captivating sentence, you're halfway home.

A writer writes. Period. No matter if someone is buying your work or not.

Unfortunately, there are writers whose only concern is how good they could make themselves look on a title.

I realized the only thing I owed my audience was my own judgment and my own best effort.

It is hard work and great art to make life not so serious.

Windisch closes his eyes. He feels his eyes. He feels his eyeballs in his hands. His eyes without a face.

Beauty is truth - truth beauty - that is all Ye know on earth and all ye need to know.

I didn't study Greek mythology in school and I wish I had.

Never dig up in unbelief what you have sown in faith.

The British keep employing me, and that makes me like them. It also makes me think they're very intelligent.

I've always been much more scared of the living than I am of the dead.

In this life many demolitions are actually renovations.

I never thought I'd be working with Sam [L.Jackson] .That's about as good as it gets.

You must in your music be wavering like the wind; sometimes wanton, sometimes drooping, sometimes grave and staid, otherwhile effeminate; and the more variety you show, the better shall you please.