Eisenhower's career demonstrated how it is possible to fool all the people all the time...'I may be stupid,' he once said at a press conference, 'but at least I'm sincere!' Actually, he was neither, but it suited his purpose to play the part of the bumbling man of good will who was 'not an expert in these matters' but somehow would do his best.

Writers who teach tend to prefer literary theory to literature and tenure to all else. Writers who do not teach prefer the contemplation of Careers to art of any kind.

Altruism is a brief phase through which some adolescents must pass. It is rather like acne. Happily, as with acne, only a few are permanently scarred.

I have been asked whether I wish to nominate a successor, an inheritor, a dauphin or delfino. I have decided to name Christopher Hitchens.

One of the most fascinating aspects of politician-watching is trying to determine to what extent any politician believes what he says.

It is ironic that a nation that has never experienced a coup d'etat should be so obsessed with the idea of conspiracy.

There is something about the state putting the power to bully into the hands of subnormal, sadistic apes that makes my blood boil.