I keep my mouth shut now. I've turned into a professional coward.

But our trip was different. It was a classic affirmation of everything right and true and decent in the national character. It was a gross, physical salute to the fantastic possibilities of life in this country-but only for those with true grit. And we were chock full of that.

Sex without love is as hollow and ridiculous as love without sex.

I hate pain, despite my ability to tolerate it beyond all known parameters, which is not necessarily a good thing.

As things stand now, I am going to be a writer. I'm not sure that I'm going to be a good one or even a self-supporting one, but until the dark thumb of fate presses me to the dust and says 'you are nothing', I will be a writer.

I guess that's one of the things about growing up in the fifties - it never occurred to me that you wouldn't be at least as successful as your parents.

I would feel real trapped in this life if I didn't know I could commit suicide at any time.