110 Quotes by Andrew Vachss

Journalism is what maintains democracy. It's the force for progressive social change.

The third person narrator, instead of being omniscient, is like a constantly running surveillance tape.

Victimizers of children are the enemies of any so-called society.

Without question, I've either got to be a writer, or I fail.

The sweetest thing I could say about my mother and father is that if I had the choice, I would have picked them. But I don't have any belief in biology or DNA as compelling conduct. The idea that we owe people something because we're related to them is bizarre. But the idea that we owe something because of their conduct towards us is legitimate.

I believe my publisher has shown a great deal of faith in me over a lot of years but I'm not prepared to be so arrogant to say that the long-term literary value of my work would compensate them for a financial failure.

I did criminal defense work part-time, and that paid the bills for representing abused and neglected children... and for defending in juvenile court those kids the 'child protective system' had missed when it had the chance.

A trial is not a search for truth. It is a contest and, often, one that produces no winners.

I didn't start out angry. I started out a young man wanting adventure.