If you feel the urge to write, just lie down and read a book: it will pass.

In New York we have zillions of different kinds of people, many of them hate each other, but violence based on that hatred is really uncommon here.

I place a high moral value on the way people behave. I find it repellent to have a lot, and to behave with anything other than courtesy in the old sense of the word - politeness of the heart, a gentleness of the spirit.

There are two modes of transport in Los Angeles: car and ambulance. Visitors who wish to remain inconspicuous are advised to choose the latter

There are some short essays that are very grave, and most contemporary novels are lighter than air.

There is nothing more mine than my writing, nothing I'm more proprietary about.

there are two kinds of music - good music and bad music. Good music is music that I want to hear. Bad music is music that I don't want to hear.