“Reading a great work of literature can truly be likened to having a conversation with a great mind.”

“We shouldn't teach great books; we should teach a love of reading. Knowing the contents of a few works of literature is a trivial achievement. Being inclined to go on reading is a great achievement.”

“They should have a store next to the bookstore called the shit store where you can get shit books to read while on the shitter. No one reads great literature on the shitter.”

“There is something wonderful about a book. We can pick it up. We can heft it. We can read it. We can set it down. We can think of what we have read. It does something for us. We can share great minds, great actions, and great undertakings in the pages of a book.”

“There is great literature about imprisonment, . . . about the foot soldier, . . . about the sea -- but not one great work about flying.”

“A great literary work can be completely, completely unpredictable. Which can sometimes make them very hard to read, but it gives them a great originality.”