it takes a lot of rehearsal to become yourself.

Writing poetry is like always being in love. What masochism! What luxury!

As art reveals the artist more than the world, so you see yourself and what you are not in the mirror of another culture.

Trauma reflected upon in tranquility can produce morally stunning insights - literary light! It can also produce maudlin rubbish.

Just as a salesperson is never extreme or original or overdressed, so the TV retailers never do anything to distract their audiences from the real product, the commercial.

it takes a lot of rehearsal to become yourself.

Human comedy is more profound than tragedy. In tragedy we die and it is very sad. In comedy we avoid death, and it is even sadder.