I love that Voltaire was so willing to shock his readers with arbitrary cruelty. And I can completely relate to it.

I don't know what the universe is all about, but to me, nothing is gained by slapping a God sticker on it. It has never been a comfort to me to believe there's an all-seeing eye in the sky.

It was peculiar to be standing so close to him. He's just a man, but still, what a thing to be Neil Armstrong!

As a child, I tried to play by the rules. I got very good grades in school; I was an Eagle Scout; and I believed in all of it.

I tend to look at the world more from Voltaire's perspective. Incidentally, if you haven't read Candide lately, it's a fabulous book. It's riotously, laugh-out-loud funny in a way that no Shakespeare comedy will ever be.

I have no idea how it got so big. I was just trying to find something to do while I was living in Boulder, Colorado, which isn't really a funny town. There are a lot of smart people there, but comedy isn't at the forefront of their minds.

Experience as much as you can and absorb a lot of reality. Otherwise, your writing will have the force of a Wiffle ball.