Poor Dimitri Shostakovich: In the Soviet Union, he was condemned as being too radical; in the West, for being too conservative. He could please no one but the musical public. He revenged himself on both by writing a short piece called 'March of the Soviet Police.'

There are two kinds of people I cannot abide: bigots and any well-organized ethnic group.

Is there a God? Who knows? Is there an angry unicorn on the dark side of the moon?

The rich can buy everything but health, virtue, friendship, wit, good looks, love, pride, intelligence, grace, and, if you need it, happiness.

Only a fool would leave the enjoyment of rainbows to the opticians. Or give the science of optics the last word on the matter.

A giant thirst is a great joy when quenched in time.

We need the possibility of escape as surely as we need hope.