Where there is no desire or pursuits, there is no wholeness. But there are satisfying lesser states, fragments.

It is notable how little empathy is cultivated or valued in our society. I put this down to our traditional racism and obsessive sectarianism. Even so, one would think that we would be encouraged to project ourselves into the character of someone of a different race or class, if only to be able to control him. But no effort is made.

Ronald Reagan: a triumph of the embalmer's art.

To hear two American men congratulating each other on being heterosexual is one of the most chilling experiences - and unique to the United States. You don't hear two Italians sitting around complimenting each other because they actually like to go to bed with women. The American is hysterical about his manhood.

In matters of faith, inconvenient evidence is always suppressed while contradictions go unnoticed.

When you come from a family that has been political, and I was brought up by my grandfather in the Senate, my father was in Roosevelt's Cabinet, this is not the class that produces writers or reflective people.

Nonprofit status is what created the Bible Belt. The tax code brought religion back to this country.