Each age, it is found, must write its own books; or rather, each generation for the next succeeding.
Nature and books belong to the eyes that see them.
Some books leave us free and some books make us free.
Every one of my books is written from the viewpoint of cops, with the exception of my book Killer on the Road, which is written from the viewpoint of a serial killer.
I've been tremendously moved by a bunch of odd books. Ross McDonald is very important to me. I love the Lew Archer books.
And they write innumerable books; being too vain and distracted for silence: seeking every one after his own elevation, and dodging his emptiness.
Books are the quietest and most constant of friends; they are the most accessible and wisest of counselors, and the most patient of teachers.
Books are the quietest and most constant of friends; they are the most accessible and wisest of counsellors, and the most patient of teachers.
In the last 1,000 years, the Arabs have translated as many books as Spain translates in just one year.
Isn't it strange that I who have written only unpopular books should be such a popular fellow?
If an army of monkeys were strumming on typewriters, they might write all the books in the British Museum.
A book is a fragile creature, it suffers the wear of time, it fears rodents, the elements and clumsy hands. so the librarian protects the books not only against mankind but also against nature and devotes his life to this war with the forces of oblivion.
In the dime stores and bus stations, people talk of situations, read books, repeat quotations, draw conclusions on the wall.
Children will not pretend to be enjoying books, and they will not read books because they have been told that these books are good. They are looking for delight.
I hope that readers will tear through my books because they can't stop themselves - and then, maybe, read them again and find new things there.