Money...buys privacy, silence. The less money you have, the noisier it is; the thinner your walls, the closer your neighbors.... The first thing you notice when you step into the house or apartment of a rich person is how quiet it is.

No one's supposed to be the president. This is not England. And it's not just the Bush family, all families designate each child as having some particular trait.

You can't go around hoping that most people have sterling moral characters. The most you can hope for is that people will pretend that they do.

Being poor is like being a child. Being rich is like being an adult: you get to do whatever you want. Everyone is nice when they have to be; rich people are nice when they feel like it.

I don't like to read nonfiction. To me, fact is something I can look up.

Think before you speak. Read before you think. This will give you something to think about that you didn't make up yourself - a wise move at any age, but most especially at seventeen, when you are in the greatest danger of coming to annoying conclusions.

Vegetables are interesting but lack a sense of purpose when unaccompanied by a good cut of meat.