How to know, oh how to know! All is relative ease and facility in orthodoxy, yet how can it be denied that good is in itself undeniable? Absolutes are the most uncertain of all formulations, while the uncertainties are the most real. Jack Vance More Quotes by Jack Vance More Quotes From Jack Vance I worked for half a cent a word. I'm not a fast writer to begin with, so for the first few years I had do other things. Jack Vance half years firsts I was a carpenter for a time and everybody watches what you do. Jack Vance carpenter watches Mischief moves somewhere near and I must blast it with my magic. Jack Vance blast magic moving I thought that automobiles were going to have mufflers and go fast and airplanes were going to fly fast. Jack Vance automobile airplane I never worked in an office in my life. Jack Vance office But I've sure worked at jobs where I have been under inspection. Jack Vance inspection has-beens jobs A reader is not supposed to be aware that someone's written the story. He's supposed to be completely immersed, submerged in the environment. Jack Vance environment reader stories I suffer from a spiritual malaise which manifests itself in outbursts of vicious rage. Jack Vance rage suffering spiritual As I mentioned, I was a carpenter for a time. Jack Vance carpenter Why make plans? The sun might well go out tomorrow. Jack Vance tomorrow sun might The life we've been leading couldn't last forever. It's a wonder it lasted as long as it did. Jack Vance lasts forever long The story was such that I couldn't make a graceful ending and then make a graceful new beginning. I could have, but I didn't want to. So, it isn't the most graceful way of writing a story. This new story is, I think, is pretty good stuff. I'm pleased with it anyway. Jack Vance new beginning good way These are just the tip of the iceberg, because I read and read and read. I read everything. Jack Vance everything because just iceberg This flattery has been rather slow in coming. I think all of sudden late in life now I'm getting some credit for what I've done. Which is gratifying, but it's kind of a little late. Jack Vance slow think late life Sometimes some of these little side excursions are useful and I manage to fit them in the book somewhere. Jack Vance somewhere some sometimes book So I'll write it, and then I'll find out that I actually wrote something that is utterly useless. You can't use it in the story and it doesn't fit. So I just throw it away. I've done that countless times. Jack Vance story you useless done It seems to limit you; when you're working in an office, you're a creature in a small cell under somebody's supervision and surveillance. Jack Vance limit small you office I never made lots of money at it, but I sold enough. Jack Vance never money enough made