“Hard work is only a prison sentence when you lack motivation”

“Hard work is a prison sentence only if it does not have meaning. Once it does, it becomes the kind of thing that makes you grab your wife around the waist and dance a jig. (150)”

“No path is hard to achieve if one has passion. But no height of passion is enough if you lack hard work.”

“Writing is hard work. A clear sentence is no accident. Very few sentences come out right the first time, or even the third time. Remember this in moments of despair. If you find that writing is hard, it's because it is hard. It's one of the hardest things that people do.”

“You are only a prisoner when you surrender.”

“Only in recent history has “working hard” signaled pride rather than shame for lack of talent, finesse and, mostly, sprezzatura.”

“Writers around the world protested when two Communist writers, Siniavski and Daniel, were sentenced to prison by their own comrades. But not even churches protest when Christians are put in prison for their faith.”

“If you want total security, go to prison. There you're fed, clothed, given medical care and so on. The only thing lacking… is freedom.”

“Never be a Prisoner of your Past.

It was just a Lesson…

Not a Life Sentence.”

“When it comes to money, the only skill most people know is to work hard.”