Only a fool is astonished by the foolishness of mankind.

Life is hard? True - but let's love it anyhow, though it breaks every bone in our bodies.

If you feel that you're not ready to die, never fear; nature will give you complete and adequate assistance when the time comes.

Life imitates art -- but badly.

Henry James was our master of periphrasis -- the fine art of saying as little as possible in the greatest number of words.

A shelf of classics for our young adults: Tolkien, Hesse, Casteneda, Kerouac, Salinger, Tom Robbins, and _The Last Whole Earth Catalog_.

The sneakiest form of literary subtlety, in a corrupt society, is to speak the plain truth. The critics will not understand you; the public will not believe you; your fellow writers will shake their heads. Laughter, praise, honors, money, and the love of beautiful girls will be your only reward.