Literature is my life of course but from an ontological point of view. From an existential point of view I like being a teacher.

I didn't read so much Japanese literature. Because my father was a teacher of Japanese literature I just wanted to do something else.

My literary success meant nothing to me.

There's that unwritten schism that literary writers get all the awards and commericals writers get all the success.

My father was an immigrant who literally walked across Europe to get out of Russia. He fought in World War I. He was wounded in action. My father was a great success even though he never had money. He was a very determined man a great role model.

Internationalism on the other hand admits that spiritual achievements have their roots deep in national life from this national consciousness art and literature derive their character and strength and on it even many of the humanistic sciences are firmly based.

To achieve lasting literature fictional or factual a writer needs perceptive vision absorptive capacity and creative strength.

I love the wry motto of the Paleontological Society meant both literally and figuratively for hammers are the main tool of our trade: Frango ut patefaciam - I break in order to reveal.

All literary men are Red Sox fans - to be a Yankee fan in a literate society is to endanger your life.

Not only is the self entwined in society it owes society its existence in the most literal sense.