When you consider how many millions of workdays begin with hangovers great and small, it is mildly ­surprising to find how few real descriptions of the experience our literature can boast.

Ronald Reagan used to alarm his Soviet counterparts by saying that surely they'd both unite against an invasion from Mars.

A faction willing to take the risks of making war on the ossified status quo in the Middle East can be described as many things, but not as conservative.

It's [Los Angeles] mostly full of nonsense and delusion and egomania. They think they'll be young and beautiful forever, even though most of them aren't even young and beautiful now.

What is your idea of earthly happiness? To be vindicated in my own lifetime.

Mockery of religion is one of the most essential things... one of the beginnings of human emancipation is the ability to laugh at authority.

In one way, I suppose, I have been 'in denial' for some time, knowingly burning the candle at both ends and finding that it often gives a lovely light.