The effect of AIDS was like a war in a minute country. Like, in World War I, a whole generation of Englishmen died all at once. And with AIDS, a whole generation of gay men died practically all at once, within a couple of years.

This idea that people have to love and understand each other is absurd. It's not human nature.

Romantic love is mental illness. But it's a pleasurable one.

I woke up at five o'clock in the morning with the whole first paragraph in my head. Now, this just shows what a slothful person I am: I tried to go back to sleep.

Contrary to what many of you may imagine, a career in letters is not without its drawbacks - chief among them the unpleasant fact that one is frequently called upon to sit down and write.

The Italians are the most civilized people. And they're very warm. Basically, they're Jews with great architecture.

If you're going to America, bring your own food.