Why cant a writer use writing as a painter uses paint? I try to. When — Patrick White

"Conversation is imperative if gaps are to be filled, and old age, it is the last gap but one."

"In my books I have lifted bits from various religions in trying to come to a better understanding; Ive made use of religious themes and symbols. Now, as the world becomes more pagan, one has to lead people in the same direction in a different way."

"The essence of what you have to say you pick up before youre twenty."

"Ive lost interest in the theatre because you cant get what you want ever. I used to think it would be wonderful to see what you had written come to life. Here in Australia its very hard to get an adequate performance because of the state of the theatre; but even if you have the best actors in the world its never what you visualised. One cant say all one wants to say, one cant convey it."

"I always like to write three versions of a book. The first is always agony and chaos; no one could understand it. With the second you get the shape, its more or less all right. I write both of those in longhand. The third draft I type out with two fingers: its for refining of meaning, additions and subtractions. I think my novels usually begin with characters; you have them floating about in your head and it may be years before they get together in a situation. Characters interest me more than situations."

"Loonies speak their own language, like educated people."

"In the life of the mass-order, the culture of the generality tends to conform to the demands of the average human being. Spirituality decays through being diffused among the masses when knowledge is impoverished in every possible way by rationalisation until it becomes accessible to the crude understanding of all."

"I say this to you because we Spaniards are a forgetful people, because we are used to living for the moment, because we do not look back, because we do not know how to see the chain of heroes, because we do not contemplate the sum of sacrifices."

"Sharon Tate was my best friend. Once, we were roommates. She introduced me to my husband. She was the godmother to my baby daughter who is named for her. In the six years time that I knew her, she never said an unkind word about anyone."

"Long time to see. (VS: Tapion)"

"Most mathematicians prove what they can, von Neumann proves what he wants." Once in a discussion about the rapid growth of mathematics in modern times, von Neumann was heard to remark that whereas thirty years ago a mathematician could grasp all of mathematics, that is impossible today. Someone asked him: "What percentage of all mathematics might a person aspire to understand today?" Von Neumann went into one of his five-second thinking trances, and said: "About 28 percent."

"Children must be free to think in all directions irrespective of the peculiar ideas of parents who often seal their childrens minds with preconceived prejudices and false concepts of past generations. Unless we are very careful, very careful indeed, and very conscientious, there is still great danger that our children may turn out to be the same kind of people we are."