...in an infinite universe, anything that could be imagined might somewhere exist.

If God is an author and the universe is the biggest novel ever written, I may feel as if I'm the lead character in the story, but like every man and woman on Earth, I am a suporting player in one of billions of subplots. You know what happens to supporting players. Too often they are killed off in chapter 3, or in chapter 10, or in chapter 35. A supporting player always has to be looking over his shoulder.

I've had good publishers and bad publishers, and you've got to learn when the advice is sensible and when it's not.

Atlas isn't carrying the world on his shoulders, no giant muscular hulk with a sense of responsibility; the world is balanced on a pyramid of clowns, and they are always tooting horns and wobbling and goosing each other.

That was interesting, riding in the trunk," Milo said, "but I wouldn't want to do it again.

I need those nukes, the chief said. I need them, I need them right now. I don't want to be an enabler, sir. I'd rather get you into a twelve step program to help you break this addiction.

Given my heritage and the ordeal of my childhood, I sometimes wonder why I myself am not insane. Maybe I am.