“As soon as I was out in the street, I realized I didn't want to be alone after all, I realized I didn't want to be anything at all.”

“I finally realized that what I wanted didn't exist where I thought it did.”

“That was when I realized a shocking thing. I couldn't become a man without becoming The Man. Even if I didn't want to.”

“Everything hurt. I closed my eyes, pressing my cheek to the street, and waited. What for, I didn't know. To be rescued. Or found. But no one came. All I'd ever thought I wanted was to be left alone. Until I was.”

“It didn't occur to me that my books would be widely read at all, and that enabled me to write anything I wanted to. And even once I realized that they were being read, I still wrote as if I were writing in secret. That's how one has to write anyway--in secret.”

“You're the man who stands on the street corner with a roll of toilet paper, and written on each square are the words, 'I love you.' And each passer-by, no matter who, gets a square all his or her own. I don't want my square of toilet paper.'I didn't realize it was toilet paper.”