Perhaps the ideal life is that of the week-end artist, who preserves the integrity of his own aesthetic ideals because of his economic independence. . . If his daily grind is hateful he has his weekly solace in art.
Birds are an ecological litmus paper.
The truth of the matter is, the birds could very well live without us, but many -- perhaps all -- of us would find life incomplete, indeed almost intolerable without the birds.
Birds are indicators of the environment. If they are in trouble, we know we'll soon be in trouble.
Birds, it must be admitted, are the most exciting and most deserving of the vertebrates; they are perhaps the best entre into the study of natural history, and a very good wedge into conservation awareness.
Birds. . . are sensitive indicators of the environment, a sort of "ecological litmus paper,". . . The observation and recording of bird populations over time lead inevitably to environmental awareness and can signal impending changes.
The more you look, the more you will see.
If you fail the first time that's just a chance to start over again.
Writing [is] a form of prayer.
I have noted that, barring accidents, artists whose powers wear best and last longest are those who have trained themselves to work under adversity. Great artists treasure their time with a bitter and snarling miserliness.
I go for really smart guys, ones who are well-read and can banter and argue. Men need to be able to take me out and have a few drinks, but by the end of the night we'll be talking about Nietzsche.