The slave trade was globalism. Why people insist that globalism, after its hideous history, is a good thing, I do not know.

I can't get upset about 'offensive to women' or 'offensive to blacks' or 'offensive to Native Americans' or 'offensive to Jews' ... Offend! I can't get worked up about it. Offend!

Express everything you like. No word can hurt you. None. No idea can hurt you. Not being able to express an idea or word will hurt you more. Like a bullet.

All of these declarations of what writing ought to be, which I had myself-though, thank God I had never committed them to paper-I think are nonsense. You write what you write, and then either it holds up or it doesn't hold up. There are no rules or particular sensibilities. I don't believe in that at all anymore.

When once I got to America I fell in love with hippie culture, and I've always wanted to live in the country and grow organic vegetables.

I like cooking, but I think someone else ought to do the dishes.

Writing is not a profession. It's a calling. It's almost holy.