There's always a moment when you start to fall out of love, whether it's with a person or an idea or a cause, even if it's one you only narrate to yourself years after the event: a tiny thing, a wrong word, a false note, which means that things can never be quite the same again.

Presidents don't have power. Their job is to draw attention away from it.

Gordon Way's astonishment at being suddenly shot dead was nothing compared to his astonishment at what happened next.

It's guff. It doesn't advance the action. It makes for nice fat books such as the American market thrives on, but it doesn't actually get you anywhere.

When people you greatly admire appear to be thinking deep thoughts, they probably are thinking about lunch.

Many men of course became extremely rich, but this was perfectly natural and nothing to be ashamed of because no one was really poor, at least no one worth speaking of.

Anyone who is capable of getting themselves made President should on no account be allowed to do the job.