A kid in an abusive home has far fewer rights than any POW. There is no Geneva Convention for kids.
Andrew Vachss

Building a mechanical device for its appearance is like putting lace on a bowling ball.
Andrew Vachss

I believe my publisher has shown a great deal of faith in me over a lot of years but I'm not prepared to be so arrogant to say that the long-term literary value of my work would compensate them for a financial failure.
Andrew Vachss

I don't sign contracts for my books.
Andrew Vachss

I don't take advances for my books.
Andrew Vachss

I don't understand people whose gratification is a BMW. You don't know what joy is until you see a kid who was tortured get adopted by a family.
Andrew Vachss

I think people should be consumers of journalism.
Andrew Vachss

I'm in pursuit of what cannot be achieved: perfection.
Andrew Vachss

Journalism is the protection between people and any sort of totalitarian rule. That's why my hero, admittedly a flawed one, is a journalist.
Andrew Vachss

Journalism is what maintains democracy. It's the force for progressive social change.
Andrew Vachss

My life is triage.
Andrew Vachss

No politician is threatened by the child protective constituency, because it does not exist.
Andrew Vachss

People are pushing against the fabric of society all the time.
Andrew Vachss

The idea that you're not a writer until you're published is a lie.
Andrew Vachss

The third person narrator, instead of being omniscient, is like a constantly running surveillance tape.
Andrew Vachss

Victimizers of children are the enemies of any so-called society.
Andrew Vachss

We don't protect our young, and we tolerate predators of our own species.
Andrew Vachss