“I don't have ADD, but I only like to pay attention to the things I lik...” — Jonathan Ames Quote

“I don't have ADD, but I only like to pay attention to the things I like to pay attention to, and things like getting a TV and getting the cable working are beyond me, and so I let such things lapse, sometimes for years. This applies to keeping my apartment clean.”

“Mostly I have to try to censor myself so as not to write things that will hurt other people, or that will go too far.”

“When I was in college, I had the good fortune to have Joyce Carol Oates as my writing teacher. She told me that I could take an aspect of myself, and from that one bit of personality, I can create a character. This is what I have done, particularly in my novels.”

“My doctor told me that jogging could add years to my life. I think he was right. I feel ten years older already.”

“But I have to add - and this answers your other question - this catholicity in time and in space is only meaningful for me if there is, at the same time, a concentration on the Gospel.”

“I've written many extra verses to songs that I learned to sing - an extra verse about a friend, or just add some verse - and that led to writing my own songs.”