The stars were so many and so white they looked like chips of ice, hammered through the fabric of the sky.

Did time move forward, through people, or did people move through it, like clouds across the sky?

I lived for two years in Odawara, a castle town an hour outside of Tokyo, near the sea. It's a beautiful place, and I drew on my experiences there when writing 'The Lake of Dreams.'

I saw clearly how those who saved the state so heroically and courageously in the War of Independence would be capable of bringing a catastrophe upon it if they are given the chance in normal times.

The creatures I seek do not want to be seen.

The people who believe that their soul is being crushed by playing a particular role need to take a vacation or check into the looney bin for awhile.

Fool! Don't you see now that I could have poisoned you a hundred times had I been able to live without you.

You can't just look at the side of something that you want to see. You have to look at the whole round object and understand that there are parts of it that you don't like.

Every principle has a promise.

I owe everything to a system that made me learn by heart till I wept. As a result I have thousands of lines of poetry by heart. I owe everything to this.

I shouldn't have eavesdropped, but sometimes, that's the only way to find out the truth.

I mean, I haven't been completely lacking in some enjoyment of Chuck Berry or Buddy Holly. But I just didn't pay attention to that period of music, obviously.