We are at heart so profoundly anarchistic that the only form of state we can imagine living in is Utopian; and so cynical that the only Utopia we can believe in is authoritarian.

Immature artists imitate. Mature artists steal.

Where misunderstanding serves others as an advantage, one is helpless to make oneself understood.

Being a Jew is like walking in the wind or swimming: you are touched at all points and conscious everywhere.

The poet is in command of his fantasy, while it is exactly the mark of the neurotic that he is possessed by his fantasy.

What marks the artist is his power to shape the material of pain we all have.

It is now life and not art that requires the willing suspension of disbelief.

Unless we insist that politics is imagination and mind, we will learn that imagination and mind are politics, and of a kind we will not like.

It is possible that the contemplation of cruelty will not make us humane but cruel; that the reiteration of the badness of our spiritual condition will make us consent to it.

The immature artist imitates. The mature artist steals.

We who are liberal and progressive know that the poor are our equals in every sense except that of being equal to us.

There are many things that you can avoid by just knowing something. Knowledge of self is the most notable knowledge I pursue. By knowing myself, I avoided dead dreams and a meaningless life.

Everyone assumes writers spend their time lounging around, writing and occasionally striking a pose whilst having a think.

If you let the world in, you open yourself up to the world. Even if the world doesn't know that you're there.

It doesn't matter where you come from or who you think you are, we're all human beings with beating hearts.

Taking somebody's sacrifices is like taking counterfeit money. You're only the poorer.

It was obvious that he was a man who marched through life to the rhythms of some drum I would never hear.

You can dwell on things, and if you open your eyes and pay attention to it, those things start popping up around you.

I look at what's going on in our society and what's pissing me off at the moment and I just get my basic gut reaction to that and that gut reaction usually becomes the title of the book.

We all have different musical instincts, and I think they're precious and should be respected.

Love conquers all; therefore, let us submit to love.