Commencement speeches were invented largely in the belief that outgoing college students should never be released into the world until they have been properly sedated.

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.

Freedom should always be discussed within the context of responsibility.

I try to take people one at a time, with all the contradictions and compromises that most of us live with.

There is nothing worse than annotated humour.

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.

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