America Is A Nation With Many Flaws,

Character Consists Of What You Do On The Third And Fourth Tries.

As A Writer I Have Persisted In My Uncertainty, Alternating Between Novels Which Could Charitably Be Considered Literature And World Reporting Which By Another Stretch Of Objective Standards Might Be Called History.

The Permanent Temptation Of Life Is To Confuse Dreams With Reality. The Permanent Defeat Of Life Comes When Dreams Are Surrendered To Reality.

No Man Leaves Where He Is And Seeks A Distant Place Unless He Is In Some Respect A Failure.

Although Most Of Us Know Vincent Van Gogh In Arles And Paul Gauguin In Tahiti As If They Were Neighbors -- Somewhat Disreputable But Endlessly Fascinating -- None Of Us Can Name Two French Generals Or Department Store Owners Of That Period. I Take Enormous Pride In Considering Myself An Artist, One Of The Necessaries.