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You cannot predict literary success; the only way you can possibly aim for it is to do your thing and do it well.

Reading 'Youth in Revolt' might have ruined my career because suddenly I wanted to abandon all the emotional truth of something and just go out far on a literary limb with completely implausible things that relied completely on voice and humor. And what saved me is realizing that I couldn't do that very well.

Shakespeare didn't work at all for me.

I never intended to become a writer.

I never wanted to be a writer.

With 'Ilustrado,' I set out to change the way we read literature, and I think I failed spectacularly. In fact, I know I failed. In reaching further than I could, I may not have produced a life- or literature-changing book, but I did produce one I am proud of.

Literature led me to freedom, not the other way round.

I really am not affected by the tragic aspects of my books.

A theatre, a literature, an artistic expression that does not speak for its own time has no relevance.