Suits obviously had helped to promote bad government and he was as guilty as anyone for wearing them so steadfastly for twenty years. Of late he had become frightened of the government for the first time in his life, the way the structure of democracy had begun debasing people rather than enlivening them in their mutual concern. The structure was no longer concerned with the purpose for which it was designed, and a small part of the cause, Nordstrom thought, was probably that all politicians and bureaucrats wore suits.

I should add that I very much enjoy certain cities especially Paris, New York and Chicago.

Sometimes the only answer to death is lunch.

New Yorkers are mostly interested in New York - in case you haven't noticed.

Birthdays are ghost bounty hunters that track you down to ask, "Que pasa, baby?

I asked a French critic a couple of years ago why my books did so well in France. He said it was because in my novels people both act and think. I got a kick out of that.

I'm hoping to be astonished tomorrow by I don't know what.