In the nature of things, a person engaged in the flimsy business of expressing himself on paper is dependent on the large general privilege of being heard. Any intimation that this privilege may be revoked throws a writer into panic.

A despot doesn't fear eloquent writers preaching freedom- he fears a drunken poet who may crack a joke that will take hold.

Democracy is itself, a religious faith. For some it comes close to being the only formal religion they have.

A schoolchild should be taught grammar—for the same reason that a medical student should study anatomy.

It is not often that someone comes along who is a true friend and a good writer.

Is there anything in the universe more beautiful and protective than the simple complexity of a spider's web?

Old age is a special problem for me because I've never been able to shed the mental image I have of myself - a lad of about 19.