To possess another language is to possess another soul.

America has entered one of its periods of historic madness, but this is the worst I can remember.

I don't think it is given to any of us to be impertinent to great religions with impunity.

To possess another language, Charlemagne tells us, is to possess another soul. German is such a language. Once you have it in your head, you can go there anytime, you can close the door, you have a refuge.

I move my lips when I read -- I'm painfully slow -- so I like really good English.

Until we have a better relationship between private performance and the public truth, as was demonstrated with Watergate, we as the public are absolutely right to remain suspicious, contemptuous even, of the secrecy and the misinformation which is the digest of our news.

When you're my age and you see a story, you better go for it pretty quickly. I'd just like to get a few more novels under my belt.