“Talent is a wonderful thing, but it won't carry a quitter. ”

“Artistic talent is far more common than the talent to nurture artistic talent.”

“A little talent is a good thing to have if you want to be a writer. But the only real requirement is the ability to remember every scar.”

“Because talent won't be quiet, doesn't know how to be quiet," he said. "Whether it's a talent for safe-cracking, thought-reading, or dividing ten-digit numbers in your head, it screams to be used. It never shuts up. It'll wake you in the middle of your tiredest night, screaming, 'Use me, use me, use me! I'm tired of just sitting here! Use me, fuckhead, use me!”

“Books are the perfect entertainment: no commercials, no batteries, hours of enjoyment for each dollar spent. What I wonder is why everybody doesn't carry a book around for those inevitable dead spots in life.”

“Talent is cheaper than table salt. What separates the talented individual from the successful one is a lot of hard work.”

“That thing about don't look up here, you're pissing on your shoes, forinstance, was that humor? Or a growl of rage?--All That You Love Will Be Carried Away.”