“I am but little disposed to put things in writing. One almost always regrets doing so.”

“I assure your lordship that for the first time in my existence I regret that I have made no practical study of campanology." I am always so delighted to find that there are things you cannot do.”

“(on teaching writing) So many writers come to class with one question dominant in their mind, 'How do I make a living from this?' It's a fair enough question and one I always try to answer well - but it saddens me that it so often overshadows the more relevant questions of 'why am I writing' and 'what am I saying' and 'how do I keep it honest.”

“I am a commercial writer and I'm proud of that. I am writing things to be put in the bookstore next month. I think it is a mistake to try to write for the ages.”

“I realized Michael was right. I mean, I am always writing in this journal. And I do compose a lot of poetry, and write a lot of notes and emails and stuff. I mean, I feel like I am always writing. I do it so much, I never even thought about it as a talent. It's just something I do all the time, like breathing.”

“I am strong, but I am tired, Stephen, tired of always having to be the strong one, of always having to do the right thing.”