Realities disguised as symbols are, for me, new realities that are immeasurably preferable. I make an effort to take them at their word. To grasp, to carry out the diktat of images to the letter.

If there is horror, it is for those who speak indifferently of the next war. If there is hate, it is for hateful qualities, not nations. If there is love, it is because this alone kept me alive.

If I vibrate with vibrations other than yours, must you conclude that my flesh is insensitive?

Individualism? Narcissism? Of course. It is my strongest tendency, the only intentional constancy [fidelity] I am capable of.... Besides, I am lying; I scatter myself too much for that.

The easiest way to get rid of bitterness is to spit it out. The easiest way to forget something noxious is to flush it. The easiest way to move on is to erase everything, and I do mean everything.

I never want to be the producer that I too often got.

Art and business may be strange bedfellows, but an artist must make room in her bed for both.

We take a drink only for the sake of the benediction.

[Raymond] Chandler, I reread him, and there's a lot of bad writing there. I don't think he knew much about people.

Congratulation s to Rahm Emanuel on being elected mayor of Chicago. His first order of business after taking office will be to actually move to Chicago.

Love makes use of the worst traps. The least noble. The rarest. It exploits coincidence.

I think that it's a universal urge to have our pain not be felt alone and to have our joys not be felt alone.

It is true that prosperity has many close friends; poverty, on the other hand, has only distant watchers!

I know he (Albert Belle) hates me. If he needs that hate to succeed, it's fine by me. I always liked him. He was a good kid. He just had a hard time with the pressure.