My friend Harry Nilsson used to say the definition of an artist was someone who rode way ahead of the herd and was sort of the lookout. Now you don't have to be that, to be an artist. You can be right smack-dab in the middle of the herd. If you are, you'll be the richest.

It's better to be known by six people for something you're proud of than to be known by sixty million for something you're not.

Most entertainment is trying to get you. It's tested, like toothpaste.

I come from the place where I am thinking 'I have put my blood on the pages.'

I've always been the king of silence. I've always been a minimalist comedian. I've taken my influence from Jack Benny, who was the king of that I've always done 'less is more.'

If you look at the best-seller list for American fiction, they're all sequels to detective stories or stories about hunting serial killers. That's what's called American fiction these days.

I take anything other than 'you big pig!' as a compliment.