America: the only country in the world where failing to promote yourself is regarded as being arrogant.

When you're young, you don't feel iconoclastic - you're just kind of doing what seems natural, what moves you.

The poor are the only ones who suffer. And they're used to it.

Lives have been altered in fundamental ways, and later, after they acquire a more complete understanding of what goals are actually attainable, many are left facing a lot of pain and frustration. And yet, there's no culture of complaint.

Medical decisions have been politicized. What doctor wants a state legislator in his consulting room?

That's what fiction writers do: create characters and do terrible things to them for the entertainment of others. If they feel guilty enough, they write happy endings.

At college my three main interests were - in descending order of importance - a steady supply of recreational drugs, a 2-S draft deferment, and overthrowing the Nixon administration.