I categorically declare first my absolute innocence, second my lack of criminal intent, and third my effusive apologies. - Jack Vance

If the dictators and militarists who used to start wars had to earn by manual labor what their wars cost, there would have been very few wars.

The less a writer discusses his work—and himself—the better. The master chef slaughters no chickens in the dining room; the doctor writes prescriptions in Latin; the magician hides his hinges, mirrors, and trapdoors with the utmost care.

“You’re sure you want to look into these cognates? You might see things you wouldn’t like.”
“So long as I know the truth, I don’t care whether I like it or not.”