We make children and wealth and amass land and build halls and assemble armies and give great feasts, but only one thing survives us. Reputation.

At risk of sounding foully pompous I think that writers' groups are probably very useful at the beginning of a writing career.

Looking back, of course, it was irresponsible, mad, forlorn, idiotic, but if you don't take chances then you'll never have a winning hand, and I've no regrets.

Of course some days are easier than others, but my worst day is better than being in most humdrum occupations.

You know what circumcision is, Private?

You'll call me damned Jew, a Christ murderer, a secret worshipper of pigs and a kidnapper of Christian children. How absurd! Who would want to kidnap children, Christian or otherwise? Vile things. The only mercy of children is that they grow up, as my son has but then, tragically, they beget more children. We do not learn life's lessons.

Television is a young person's medium.