I have never known a novel that was good enough to be good in spite of its being adapted to the author's political views. Edith Wharton
An author's first duty is to let down his country. Brendan Behan
Great literature must spring from an upheaval in the author's soul. If that upheaval is not present then it must come from the works of any other author which happens to be handy and easily adapted. Robert Benchley
Ideas improve. The meaning of words participates in the improvement. Plagiarism is necessary. Progress implies it. It embraces an author's phrase, makes use of his expressions, erases a false idea, and replaces it with the right idea. Guy Debord
If a secret history of books could be written, and the author's private thoughts and meanings noted down alongside of his story, how many insipid volumes would become interesting, and dull tales excite the reader! William Makepeace Thackeray
Your source material is the people you know, not those you don't know, [but] every character is an extension of the author's own personality. Edward Albee