Shirley Jackson

I have always loved to use fear, to take it and comprehend it and make it work and consolidate a situation where I was afraid and take it whole and work from there.

Life Among the Savages is a disrespectful memoir of my children.

I very much dislike writing about myself or my work, and when pressed for autobiographical material can only give a bare chronological outline which contains no pertinent facts.

Fear follows crime and is its punishment.

You teach your daughters the diameters of the planets and wonder when you are done that they do not delight in your company.