The genius of the United States is not best or most in its executives or legislatures nor in its ambassadors or authors or colleges or churches or parlors nor even in its newspapers or inventors but always most in the common people.

The best author will be the one who is ashamed to become a writer.

Surround yourself with the best people you can find delegate authority and don't interfere as long as the policy you've decided upon is being carried out.

Literature isn't a moral beauty contest. Its power arises from the authority and audacity with which the impersonation is pulled off the belief it inspires is what counts.

As an inspiration to the author I do not think the cat can be over-estimated. He suggests so much grace power beauty motion mysticism. I do not wonder that many writers love cats I am only surprised that all do not.

At home in Ireland there's a habit of avoidance an ironical attitude towards the authority figure.

Becoming an author changes your attitude too. Once you see where books come from and how they're made they never seem quite as sacred again.

Let us be true: this is the highest maxim of art and of life the secret of eloquence and of virtue and of all moral authority.

I thought it was amazing to work with authors to get a manuscript and try to make up a cover for it.

The secret to being a writer is that you have to write. It's not enough to think about writing or to study literature or plan a future life as an author. You really have to lock yourself away alone and get to work.