 Because Fick had traveled much in his studies, he had the opportunity to meet some of 20th century's great American authors including William Faulkner whom he met in a coffee house favored by the literary set in New York City.Sometimes, to illustrate a point in the classroom, Fick would make references to one of these encounters.When a student grew discouraged at the horrendous amounts of red ink expended on their term papers and essays, Fick would typically tell the student to persist in his or her efforts reminding the student that "Knowledge maketh a bloody entrance," or some other quip that typically went to the heart of the matter.