Like childhood, old age is irresponsible, reckless, and foolhardy. Children and old people have everything to gain and nothing much to lose. It's middle-age which is cursed by the desperate need to cling to some finger-hold halfway up the mountain, to conform, not to cause trouble, to behave well.

I suppose that writers should, in a way, feel flattered by the censorship laws. They show a primitive fear and dread at the fearful magic of print.

All the flower children were as alike as a congress of accountants and about as interesting.

I don't believe in children's books. I think after you've read Kidnapped, Treasure Island, and Huckleberry Finn, you're ready for anything.

The greatest horrors of our world are committed by people who are totally sincere.

Hell must be a place where you are only allowed to read what you agree with.

We don't know much about the human conscience, except that it is soluble in alcohol.