a writer must always tell the truth (unless he's a journalist)

The best novelist of my generation is an Italian living in Paris, still working and improving - Italo Calvino.

You know, I've been around the ruling class all my life, and I've been quite aware of their total contempt for the people of the country.

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.

Miss Rand now tells us that what we have thought was right is really wrong. The lesson should have read: One for one and none for all.

I Must warn you, Iris, that I'm not a believer. And though I'm sure that the revelations of other men must be a source of infinite satisfaction to them, individually, I shouldn't for one second be so presumptuous as to make a choice among the many thousands of recorded revelations of truth, accepting one at the expense of all the others: I might so easily choose wrong and get into eternal trouble. And you must admit that the selection is wide, and dangerous to the amateur.

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