I have heard of novels started in the middle, at the end, written in patches to be joined together later, but I have never felt the slightest desire to do this.

I must be like the princess who felt the pea through seven mattresses; each book is a pea.

There is no other way of writing a novel than to begin at the beginning at to continue to the end.

I formed a resolution to never write a word I did not want to write; to think only of my own tastes and ideals, without a thought of those of editors or publishers.

Perhaps that suspicion of fraud enhances the flavor.

They managed to find time... to tell me that there was no chance of my being accepted for service and that really I should be surprised to still be alive.