The sign of a masterpiece: A painting when there's a lack of resolution.

You're so calm and quiet, you never say. But there are things inside you. I see them sometimes, hiding in your eyes.

It's those little daily incidents of life that are dramatic, and if you put a frame around it , suddenly they become much bigger and much more important than you ever imagined.

It's a rare book that wins the battle against drooping eyelids.

I find that when I come out of the library I'm in what I call the library bliss of being totally taken away from the distractions of life.

He saw things in a way that others did not, so that a city I had lived in all my life seemed a different place, so that a woman became beautiful with the light on her face.

Don't write about what you know - write about what you're interested in. Don't write about yourself - you aren't as interesting as you think.

As I get older, I use less jewelry - necklace or earrings each morning, not both; my clothes are getting more basic - fewer colours and simpler cuts; and my make-up is stripped back to basics.

You know I don’t listen to market gossip,” she began, “but it is hard not to hear it when my daughter’s name is mentioned.

I have consistently loved books that I've read when I've been sick in bed.

I had walked along that street all my life, but had never been so aware that my back was to my home

We all have a voice. Some a whisper, some a roar. If you can roar, roar for others. If you can only whisper, keep trying. Every roar started small.

Tick. Tick. Tick. This is the sound of your life running out.

I never thrust my nose into other men's porridge. It is no bread and butter of mine: Every man for himself and God for us all.

The press attack people to sell more papers without thinking, but when you get famous you have to put up with this kind of stuff.

The most intense patriotism always flourishes in the rear.

I think all poets must feel this: that there is constantly something new to be discovered in the language. It's like a thrilling encounter, and you can find things.

The public read newspapers, see television, they watch, they don't know if it's true or false because they're not involved.

A bird only flies. It does not turn to another bird and ask, am I doing this right?

I just want to play strong characters, whatever that is in.

Brightest and best of the sons of the morning, Dawn on our darkness, and lend us thine aid. Star of the east the horizon adorning, Guide where our infant Redeemer is laid.