The daily act of writing remains as demanding and maddening as it was before and the pleasure you get from writing - rare but profound - remains at the true heart of the enterprise. On their best days writers all over the world are winning Pulitzers all alone in their studios with no one watching.

And if you don't believe the sun will rise stand alone and greet the coming night in the last remaining light.

For the last third of life there remains only work. It alone is always stimulating rejuvenating exciting and satisfying.

It is not necessary that you leave the house. Remain at your table and listen. Do not even listen only wait. Do not even wait be wholly still and alone. The world will present itself to you for its unmasking it can do no other in ecstasy it will writhe at your feet.

The want of logic annoys. Too much logic bores. Life eludes logic and everything that logic alone constructs remains artificial and forced.

I was a queen and you took away my crown a wife and you killed my husband a mother and you deprived me of my children. My blood alone remains: take it but do not make me suffer long.

I do not believe that sheer suffering teaches. If suffering alone taught all the world would be wise since everyone suffers. To suffering must be added mourning understanding patience love openness and the willingness to remain vulnerable.

What we have done for ourselves alone dies with us what we have done for others and the world remains and is immortal.