“...for years I was smart. I recommend pleasant.”

“Military guys are rarely as smart as they think they are, and they've never gotten over the fact that civilians run the military.”

“as chaste men thinkso the world goes asunderfor evil disguised in chaste sweet guiltis the evil that kills the childrenand starves the soul of love-Elwood Jake”

“Time is not a memorialit is the pasture where man lies in wait”

“In this world, Elwood, you must be oh-so-smart or -oh-so-pleasant. For years I was smart. I recommend pleasant. And you may quote me.”

“I don't understand men. I don't even understand what I don't understand about men.”

“I never presume to give advice on writing. I think the best way to learn to write is to read booksand stories by bood writers. It's a hard thing to preach about. As Thelonious Monk once said abouthis field, "Talking about music is like dancing about architecture.”