Censorship is the commonest social blasphemy because it is mostly concealed, built into us by indolence, self-interest and cowardice.

The schoolteacher is certainly underpaid as a childminder, but ludicrously overpaid as an educator.

There's no such thing as failure - just waiting for success.

Go on - but don't think you can kill my confidence. I've had experts doing it for years.

Let's pretend that we're human beings and that we're actually alive.

We all of us waited for him to die. The family sent him a check every month, and hoped he'd get on with it quietly, without too much vulgar fuss.

And even in the hatred of the majority, there's a kind of triumph because I know that, although they'd never admit it, they secretly respect me.