One hires lawyers as on hires plumbers, because one wants to keep one's hands off the beastly drains.

Only a marriage with partners strong enough to risk divorce is strong enough to avoid it.

A literary academic can no more pass a bookstore than an alcoholic can pass a bar.

New York is not like London, a now-and-then place to many people. You can either not live in New York or not live anyplace else. One is either a lover or hater.

Normal is absolutely my least favorite word.

Professors of literature collect books the way a ship collects barnacles, without seeming effort.

maturity ... is letting things happen.