My advice is not to wait to be struck by an idea. If you're a writer, you sit down and damn well decide to have an idea. That's the way to get an idea.

I'd like to be rich enough so I could throw soap away after the letters are worn off

I am interested in details. If you go into anything far enough, you get into the details of it, and people turn out to be interested in what makes things work.

Go to bed. Whatever you're staying up late for isn't worth it.

One day about 10 years ago the door to my office opened and who walked in but Bill Gates.... Seemed like a nice guy and has done more with his money than most billionaires. But that's as far as I want to go being kind to Bill Gates.

I spent my first 50 years trying to become known as a writer and the next 30 trying to avoid being famous. I walk down the street or go to a football game and people shout, 'Hey Andy'. I hate that.

It would be a better world if everyone in it knew all the truth about everything.