I am never happier than when I have something to compose, for that, after all, is my sole delight and passion
Anger is brief madness
It is courage, courage, courage, that raises the blood of life to crimson splendor. Live bravely and present a brave front to adversity
Nothing's beautiful from every point of view.
A word once let out of the cage cannot be whistled back again.
It is no great art to say something briefly when, like Tacitus, one has something to say; when one has nothing to say, however, and none the less writes a whole book and makes truth into a liar - that I call an achievement.
Never despair. [Nil desperandum. ]
I don't really need to be inspired by literature though. At the end of the day it's colour and imagery moved around until it works.
Humility consists in not esteeming ourselves above other men, and in not seeking to be esteemed above them.
It's innate in me to be a Democrat - a true Southern populist kind of Democrat. There's not a lot of those anymore. I'm not saying I'm right or wrong. That's just the way I feel.
If a guy was like, 'Let me serenade you,' and it was bad, and I had to lie about it - can't have it.