On Writing — Anton Chekhov

Don't tell me the moon is shining; show me the glint of light on broken glass. In displaying the psychology of your characters, minute particulars are essential. God preserve us from commonplaces. The role of the artist is to ask questions, not to answer them. Any idiot can face a crisis; it is this day-to-day living that wears you out. Knowledge is of no value unless you put it into practice.