Teaching has ruined more American novelists than drink.

The more money an American accumulates, the less interesting he becomes.

Americans worship the Constitution but do not observe it.

Capote I truly loathed. The way you might loathe an animal. A filthy animal that has found its way into the house.

I have been on the cover of Time magazine. My father was on the cover of Time, and my grandfather was on the cover of Time.

The worst thing to happen to Lincoln - aside from the unfortunate incident at Ford's theatre - was to fall into the hands of Carl Sandburg.

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.