I happen to disagree with the well-entrenched theory that the art of conversation is merely the art of being a good listener. Such advice invites people to be cynical with one another and full of fake; when a conversation becomes a monologue, poked along with tiny cattle-prod questions, it isn't a conversation any more.

The origin of a modern party is anthropological: humans meet and share food to lower hostility between them and indicate friendship.

If it's a woman it's caustic, if it's a man it's authority, If it's a woman it's too pushy, if it's a man it's aggressive in the best sense of the word.

when your child is in trouble, the first thing you do is blame yourself.

Just do your job. Get in early. Stay late, and don’t complain. Fight the big fights.

And I really do believe that the most important thing is the way you live your life on earth. But I think it's enormously comforting to believe that you're going to see your loved ones.

If it's a woman, it's caustic; if it's a man, it's authoritative.