“This I want to believe implicitly: Man was born for love and revolution.”

“I have no desire for others to take it on themselves to analyze my thoughts. I am without thoughts. I have never, not even once, acted on the basis of any doctrine or philosophy.I am convinced that...”

“When I pretended to be precocious, people started the rumor that I was precocious. When I acted like an idler, rumor had it I was an idler. When I pretended I couldn't write a novel, people said I ...”

“It isn't that I dislike artists, but I can't stand anyone who puts on those ponderous airs of a man of character.”

“For the first time in my life I realized what a horrible, miserable, salvationless hell it is to be without money.”

“Last year nothing happenedThe year before nothing happenedAnd the year before that nothinghappened.”

“July 24, 6:03 A.M.The laundry was warm and the rafters were firm, and Michael Holzapfel jumped from the chair as if it were a cliff...Michael Holzapfel knew what he was doing. He killed himself for...”

“A book is a suicide postponed.”

“How much can you really trust the promise of a suicidal father?”