The creation of a work of art, like an act of love, is our one small 'yes' at the center of a vast 'no.'

I believe it's my pastoral duty to convert friends to atheism.

Realism has always been called cynicism.

The last best hope of earth, two trillion dollars in debt, is spinning out of control, and all we can do is stare at a flickering cathode-ray tube as Ollie answers questions on TV while the press, resolutely irrelevant as ever, asks politicians if they have committed adultery. From V-J Day 1945 to this has been, my fellow countrymen, a perfect nightmare.

I'm in favor of any form of sexual relationship that gives pleasure to those involved. And I have never heard a convincing argument to the contrary.

"Terrorism" is a metaphor, it's an abstract noun. It's like having a war on dandruff. It's something from advertising, it's meaningless.

I was brought up to believe that what is out-of-doors should stay there and not be encouraged in any way.