Why can't we simply borrow what is useful to us from Buddhism, Hinduism, Taoism, especially Zen, as we borrow from Christianity, science, American Indian traditions and world literature in general, including philosophy, and let the rest go hang? Borrow what we need but rely principally upon our own senses, common sense and daily living experience.

Literary critics, like a herd of cows or a school of fish, always face in the same direction, obeying that love for unity that every critic requires.

The basic science is not physics or mathematics but biology -- the study of life. We must learn to think both logically and bio-logically.

Girls: I never wanted them all. Just all the ones I wanted.

When the biggest, richest, glassiest buildings in town are the banks, you know that town's in trouble.

There comes a point, in literary objectivity, when the author's self- effacement is hard to distinguish from moral cowardice.

Life is too short for grief. Or regret. Or bullshit.