The waking mind is the least serviceable in the arts.

Every moment is a golden one for him who has the vision to recognize it as such.

The great work must inevitably be obscure, except to the very few, to those who like the author himself are initiated into the mysteries. Communication then is secondary: it is perpetuation which is important. For this only one good reader is necessary.

No matter how vast, how total, the failure of man here on earth, the work of man will be resumed elsewhere. War leaders talk of resuming operations on this front and that, but man's front embraces the whole universe.

All growth is a leap in the dark, a spontaneous unpremeditated act without benefit of experience.

The one thing we can never get enough of is love. And the one thing we never give enough is love.

In the attempt to defeat death man has been inevitably obliged to defeat life, for the two are inextricably related. Life moves on to death, and to deny one is to deny the other.

Every man has his own destiny: the only imperative is to follow it, to accept it, no matter where it leads him.

True strength lies in submission which permits one to dedicate his life, through devotion, to something beyond himself.

Sin, guilt, neurosis; they are one and the same, the fruit of the tree of knowledge.

In expanding the field of knowledge we but increase the horizon of ignorance.

The real leader has no need to lead - he is content to point the way.

The legal system is often a mystery, and we, its priests, preside over rituals baffling to everyday citizens.

I have no money, no resources, no hopes. I am the happiest man alive.

Our own physical body possesses a wisdom which we who inhabit the body lack. We give it orders which make no sense.

Develop an interest in life as you see it; the people, things, literature, music - the world is so rich, simply throbbing with rich treasures, beautiful souls and interesting people. Forget yourself.

Music is a beautiful opiate, if you don't take it too seriously.

If there is to be any peace it will come through being, not having.

An artist is always alone - if he is an artist. No, what the artist needs is loneliness.

I have never been able to look upon America as young and vital but rather as prematurely old, as a fruit which rotted before it had a chance to ripen.

Back of every creation, supporting it like an arch, is faith. Enthusiasm is nothing: it comes and goes. But if one believes, then miracles occur.

Imagination is the voice of daring. If there is anything Godlike about God it is that. He dared to imagine everything.

Los Angeles gives one the feeling of the future more strongly than any city I know of. A bad future, too, like something out of Fritz Lang's feeble imagination.

The aim of life is to live, and to live means to be aware, joyously, drunkenly, serenely, divinely aware.