Class is the most difficult subject for American writers to deal with as it is the most difficult for the English to avoid.

I'm a true reactionary. Like all patricians, I'd like to restore the original republic, which we lost 40 years ago when Harry Truman imposed the national security state on us, which has kept us at war, hot or cold, for almost half a century, and it's got us $4 trillion into debt.

I wanted to be a politician and a movie star. But I was born a writer. If you're born that, you can't change it. You're going to do it whether you want to or not.~

A writer represents his family history. My grandfather was a senator and my father served in the Roosevelt administration. In other words, I grew up in politics. This is why it seemed perfectly natural to take part in the battles of my time, and to participate in the writing of the history of my country.

I don't seem to be cynical to myself but how what I say goes down with others is their problem. I'm realistic.

There is no human problem which could not be solved if people would simply do as I advise.

I suspect that one of the reasons we create fiction is to make sex exciting.