If you have any young friends who aspire to become writers, the second-greatest favor you can do them is to present them with copies of The Elements of Style. The first-greatest, of course, is to shoot them now, while they're happy.

My verses, I cannot say poems. . . . I was following in the exquisite footsteps of Miss Millay, unhappily in my own horrible sneakers.

They tire of quiet, that have known the storm

[To woman bragging about having kept her husband for seven years:] Don't worry, if you keep him long enough, he'll come back in style.

Scratch a lover, and find a foe.

The sweeter the apple, the blacker the core. Scratch a lover and find a foe!

Yet, as only New Yorkers know, if you can get through the twilight, you'll live through the night.