Books are a uniquely portable magic.

Quiet people have the loudest minds.

You want to remember that while you're judging the book, the book is also judging you.

A life without books is a thirsty life, and one without poetry is...like a life without pictures.

A book is like a pump. It gives nothing unless first you give to it. You prime a pump with your own water, you work the handle with your own strength. You do this because you expect to get back more than you give.

Books are the perfect entertainment: no commercials, no batteries,hours of enjoyment for each dollar spent.

Good books are for consideration after, too.

When asked, "How do you write?" I invariably answer, "One word at a time," and the answer is invariably dismissed. But that is all it is. It sounds too simple to be true, but consider the Great Wall of China, if you will: one stone at a time, man. That's all. One stone at a time. But I've read you can see that motherfucker from space without a telescope.

every book you pick up has its own lesson or lessons, and quite often the bad books have more to teach than the good ones