Andrew Vachss

“Building a mechanical device for its appearance is like putting lace on a bowling ball.”

“If I ever stopped being angry, I couldn't write anymore. How could I?”

“I don't take advances for my books.”

“Victimizers of children are the enemies of any so-called society.”

“I don't understand people whose gratification is a BMW. You don't know what joy is until you see a kid who was tortured get adopted by a family.”

“Journalism is the protection between people and any sort of totalitarian rule. That's why my hero, admittedly a flawed one, is a journalist.”

“All children are born pure egoists. They perceive their needs to the exclusion of all others. Only through socialization do they learn that some forms of gratification must be deferred and others denied.”

“Camouflage doesn't help when the other guy is willing to defoliate the whole jungle.”