The American vice is explanation.

Most writers write books that they wouldn't read. I ought to know; I've done it myself.

Poor John Simon - what a nightmare, to wake up in the morning and realize that you are John Simon.

Americans worship the Constitution but do not observe it.

In America, the race goes to the loud, the solemn, the hustler. If you think you're a great writer, you must say that you are.

I have no social position and I stay away from what is known as society as much as possible.

It doesn't actually make any difference whether the President is Republican or Democrat. The genius of the American ruling class is that it has been able to make the people think that they have had something to do with the electing of presidents for 200 years when they've had absolutely nothing to say about the candidates or the policies or the way the country is run.