There are many things behind a good novel, but in particular there is a lot of work - a lot of patience, a lot of stubbornness, and a critical spirit.

Memory is a snare, pure and simple; it alters, it subtly rearranges the past to fit the present.

Prosperity or egalitarianism -- you have to choose. I favor freedom -- you never achieve real equality anyway: you simply sacrifice prosperity for an illusion.

Like writing, reading is a protest against the insufficiencies of life.

Life is a shitstorm, in which art is our only umbrella." (spoken by character in a novel by Mario Vargas Llosa)

The secret to a masterpiece is 10 percent inspiration and 90 percent perspiration.

You cannot teach creativity - how to become a good writer. But you can help a young writer discover within himself what kind of writer he would like to be.

Its easy to know what you want to say, but not to say it

Writers are the exorcists of their own demons.

One can't fight with oneself, for this battle has only one loser.

No matter how ephemeral it is, a novel is something, while despair is nothing.

I go towards him and put my hands on his face and I kiss him. “What do you feel, Holden?”He looks into my eyes. “You, ” he says. “I feel you.

Christmas is a whisper of peace and a sigh of hope on the lips of love.

The only valid censorship of ideas is the right of people not to listen.

Focus your energy on peace, bliss, and beauty. Life will be blissful and the world will be peaceful.

I don't want to own anything that won't fit into my coffin.

Earthly goods are given to be used, not to be collected.... Hoarding is idolatry.

You weigh how much you should criticize the President because hes black.

I wanted all my visits to be official. When I sent the pass back with a note, I had no idea it would antagonize the president. I found out years later that it did.

Once I discovered music, I knew what I wanted to do.

I always say too much when I'm talking to you--- that's one of the problems.... Edward Cullen Twilight, Chapter 5