see, heroes never die. John Wayne isn't dead, Elvis isn't dead. Otherwise you don’t have a hero. You can’t kill a hero. That’s why I never let him get older.

The first chapter sells the book; the last chapter sells the next book.

The most important part of a story is the ending. No one reads a book to get to the middle.

I'm actually a softie. Tough guys get killed too early... I've got a full head of hair and don't wear eyeglasses.

Inspiration is an empty bank account.

Mike Hammer drinks beer because I can't spell Cognac.

Nobody reads a book to get to the middle.

If the public likes you, you're good. Shakespeare was a common, down-to-earth writer in his day.

Those big-shot writers ... could never dig the fact that there are more salted peanuts consumed than caviar.

I have no fans. You know what I got? Customers. And customers are your friends.

If I need something, I'll invent it.

There are things known—things experienced, felt, and understood—that words hold no power to convey. Attempting to do so only dilutes their substance and does them injustice.

Faith is one of the forces by which men live the total absence of it means collapse.

Nothing lasts forever, so what makes love the exception.

I love being in a relationship, but marriage isn't for me.

Thursday? Oh no, it can't be! It's too gruesome.

It's probably similar to being in New York City and having a cab driver behind you and you're driving too slow. It's not the most pleasant thing.

When writing dialogue, I hear it in both Russian and English, and try to find a language that combines the two.

The world is a bad place. There are many wonderful people, but on the whole, humanity basically stinks.

Often Hollywood crews go into third world countries and I don't believe they behave well.

God knows what it's like to lose a son.