I often wonder what I'd do if there weren't any books in the world.

The occurrence of an event is not the same thing as knowing what it is that one has lived through.

Years ago, when he was around fourteen, he'd been all hipped on the idea of going to India. He read books about people sitting on rocks, naked, in all kinds of weather, but mostly bad, naturally, and walking barefoot through hot coals and arriving at wisdom. I used to say that it sounded to me as though they were getting away from wisdom as fast as they could. I think he sort of looked down on me for that.

Love him and let him love you. Do you think anything else under heaven really matters?

A child cannot be taught by anyone who despises him, and a child cannot afford to be fooled.

I love America more than any other country in the world, and, exactly for this reason, I insist on the right to criticize her perpetually.

A liberal: someone who thinks he knows more about your experience than you do.