“Beauty can't amuse you, but brainwork — reading, writing, thinking — can.”

“It is strange that there should be so little reading in the world, and so much writing. People in general do not willingly read, if they can have any thing else to amuse them.”

“If you can't write, keep trying. If you can't read, ask for help.”

“Definition of rock journalism: People who can't write, doing interviews with people who can't think, in order to prepare articles for people who can't read.”

“For I aint, you must know,' said Betty, 'much of a hand at reading writing-hand, though I can read my Bible and most print. And I do love a newspaper. You mightn't think it, but Sloppy is a beautiful reader of a newspaper. He do the Police in different voices.”

“I think some aspects of writing can be taught. Obviously, you can't teach vision or talent. But you can help with comfort.”